Former Alitalia flight attendants stripped off their uniforms in a silent protest in central Rome. They protested not only against their job losses, but also against the contracts awarded to those who have been retained by ITA Airways.

About 50 female former flight attendants turned up in their Alitalia uniforms, then removed them to stand in their underwear in silence for a few minutes, shouting “We are Alitalia.”

Trade unions say that those who have stayed are being paid less. Union leaders have also been pressing for the government to extend unemployment benefits for as long as five years.

ITA Airways flight attendants also have lost seniority, and are no longer told far in advance where and when they will be working.

ITA is taking on around 3,000 of Alitalia´s 10,000 employees. It launched with 2,800 employees and says it expects to increase the size of its workforce to 5,750 by 2025.

The new carrier has kept 52 of Alitalia’s 110 planes and has announced plans for an entirely new fleet of Airbuses.

ITA Airways
© ITA Airways

ITA planes will be royal blue with Alitalia´s trademark ‘tricolore’ on the tail, reflecting the red, white and green of the Italian flag.

Among its routes, ITA plans to operate flights to New York, Tokyo, Boston and Miami from Rome and Milan.

European destinations will also include Paris, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Geneva.