Alitalia’s board has approved a turnaround plan that will include cost cuts of €1 billion (Dh3.94bn) and an increase in the number of transatlantic flights as the airline seeks to achieve profitability by the end of 2019.
The 2017-21 business strategy also envisages a 30 per cent rise in revenue to €3.7bn from €2.9bn by 2019 led by the effects of about €200 million of investment in new technology over the past two years.
“The aviation industry is ferociously competitive and never stands still,” said Cramer Ball, Alitalia’s chief executive. “Only through radical change will Alitalia’s fortunes be turned around … We rebuilt our brand in the first phase and invested heavily in staff training and technology so we are now able to move ahead and implement wide-ranging changes.”
Alitalia, 49 per cent owned by Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways, will soon present the plan to the Italian government. It will then begin discussions with the airline's trade unions for the approval of a new collective works agreement and headcount-related measures.
“I am confident that the next phase of the industrial plan will represent the step forward needed, provided that all interested parties play their part,” said Mr Ball.
The airline’s relationship with labour unions has been tense in recent weeks and a stand-off over renewing employee contracts and potential job losses led to a one-day strike last month that forced Alitalia to cancel hundreds of flights.
The troubled airline will reduce its fleet by 20 narrow-body aircraft and renegotiate agreements, with suppliers including catering, ground handling, aircraft leasing and with the airports it uses.
Alitalia will make better use of its remaining short- and medium-haul narrow-body fleet, increase the number of flights between Italy and the Americas and re-evaluate its transatlantic operations, trying to fly more often on its existing routes.
“If we can’t compete throughout Italy and Europe against low-cost carriers then we lose air travellers that connect on to intercontinental flights. Put simply, there is absolutely no alternative,” said Mr Ball.
Budget airlines account for 47 per cent of the Italian market, Alitalia said.
Extra seats will be fitted to its existing fleet with buy-on-board and ancillary services together with “more attractive air fares” to be introduced, attempting to increase revenues while cutting costs.
“Our investment in technology will enable us to develop new sales channels and this will contribute to increasing our revenue,” said Mr Ball.
“About 20 per cent of our customers already use online ways to book their flights and we aim to increase that figure to more than 50 per cent.”
jeverington@thenational.ae
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The view from The National
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
