Italy: Disempowerment and Investigations at ITA Airways

“It is a win-win project that guarantees ITA a safe and profitable future” – these words are announced Alfredo Altavilla in an interview with aeroTELEGRAPH at the end of March Lufthansa and MSC to join Italian airline ITA Airways. But the solution favored by the ITA chief did not materialize.

The group around US investor Certares and airlines Air France-KLM and Delta prevailed in the bidding process. At least it was Chosen for exclusive negotiations. Altavilla has now been removed from the position of president of the airline.

The board creates facts

Early on October 12, the ITA board of directors transferred the powers of Altavilla to the airline’s president, Fabio Maria Lazzerini. A dispute over the legality of the move ensued and it seemed for a moment that no decision would be made until the ITA’s general meeting on November 8.

But on October 20, the board confirmed the decision. “The board of directors reiterates that the company’s primary mission is to remain focused on the industrial plan and to continue on the path it has taken,” she added in a statement.

Internal investigations against managers

According to Italian media, Altavilla is considering taking legal action against his ouster. And this is not the only problem that awaits the ITA. According to the newspaper La Republica An internal investigation of the airline is underway against several managers, whose email and Whatsapp history are now being checked.

The defendants are said to have tried to torpedo the planned sale of the Certares group. With distorted information about and presentation of the investment firm, ITA executives are said to have made an attempt to put the consortium in a bad light.