The strike took passengers by surprise

Demanding the state assists the ailing airline, the workers walked out on Thursday leaving passengers stranded at airports throughout Italy.

But ministers are still meeting with union officials, Alitalia said, in talks on the airline's financial woes.

The loss-making airline plans to cut 16% of its 20,000-strong workforce.

"The government is still in negotiation with unions. We want the situation resolved as soon as possible," an Alitalia spokesman told BBC News Online.

Air services are due to restart at 2000 local time, but the airline warned that "the resumption of flights will be slow and progressive".

Sensitive issue

Alitalia - which is 62% owned by the Italian Government - made a loss in 11 of the past 12 years.

But unions have fiercely opposed proposals by the airline to help reduce costs.

Facing both European and local elections in Italy this year, politicians are reluctant to be seen to be approving proposals for big job losses.

Alitalia needs a major restructuring

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's cabinet discussed a package of measures for the airline on Thursday but put off making a final decision on whether to approve it.

European competition rules may also mean any state aid will have to be open to the entire Italian air transport sector, officials say, which would bring little benefit to Alitalia.

Passenger protests

The strike, which was called by most unions, ignored legislation which requires unions to inform the government 10 days prior to arranging a walk out.

Many passengers were taken by completely by surprise when they turned up for flights on Thursday.

"Nobody warned us about this strike and not only are we stuck here but we have missed our connection for Madrid," one Spanish passenger told the AFP news agency.

The departure lounge at Rome's Fiumicino airport "turned into a camping ground", an official said, while aircraft of various shapes and sizes stood idle on the tarmac.

Alitalia chief executive Marco Zanichelli, appointed to the state-controlled airline in February, reacted angrily on Wednesday to the news of the strike.

"We are helping the competition, handing them our passengers," he told workers.

"We are damaging not only the company but also the country, where Alitalia is a precious commodity to be defended."

Your comments:

While waiting for my 20.30 connection from Milan to Heathrow yesterday evening, already delayed until 22.00, it disappeared from the board. The two members of staff later confirmed that it had been cancelled and began to follow what appeared to be a random selection of people for the next available flights. This process continued until midnight as printouts were compared and carbon copies made of reservations of seats on various flights today. More hilarity followed as Alitalia had organised accommodation and transport for the remaining passengers including myself. A drive around Northern Italy until 2.00am was waiting for us while the driver searched for the hotel. Morning, and while leaving the majority of passengers at the hotel waiting for later flights a privileged few, including myself left for the airport at 5.00am only to find standby tickets waiting for us on a BA flight at 8.00am. Luckily I was the last to be seated on this flight leaving many waiting behind, saved by the grace of BA while Alitalia cowered in the corner, the object of ridicule.
Graham Seacy, High Wycombe, UK

Alitalia have lost it big time! Such a pity but they have not moved forward. I've had some good flights in the past...and some awful ones! But the rot started when they got rid of the Armani uniform a few years ago!
Nick Byrne, London UK

The Italian government will need to make some quick decisions to restructure Alitalia or undoubtedly they will very soon face the same fate as Sabena and SwissAir did. Both Air France and KLM have made it clear that Alitalia's future in SkyTeam is contingent on a restructure and cleaning up of their balance sheet. Without this, the future of Alitalia looks very uncertain.
Gunnar Hillgartner, Nairobi, Kenya

It will be a complete outrage if the Italian Government bails out Alitalia again, in direct contradiction of European law. They have had plenty of opportunities to reorganise over the past decade, but have failed to do so. Both management and employees should cease the current situation to do something radical. Aer Lingus was refused state aid in Autumn 2001 and is now more competitive than ever.
Clive Ashmore-Butler, Stockholm, Sweden

They should just let Alitalia go under - who would miss it? Service is non-existent, the food a disgrace to a country with such a wonderful cuisine, and the constant strikes do the image of Italy only harm. Passengers realized this long ago, that's why they're losing a million euros a day. The EU must prevent any more state aid going to Alitalia - they've already had more than is allowed under the rules. Letting the company go broke would long-term be in the national interest as it would allow smaller private sector carriers to flourish and benefit passengers.
Stefan S, Bergheim, Germany

I am not yet stranded, but will be leaving for Italy in two weeks' time. I had concerns about flying Alitalia when my agent booked my trip. Alitalia has lost a lot of credibility over the years and appears to be getting worse. In as much as I am excited about my upcoming holiday in Italy, I am already nervous about spending much of it in a US airport trying to figure out how to get to Italy....
Brandon, Salem, MA - USA

Alitalia is a disgrace. I am booked next week to travel Alitalia and am bracing myself. I was stuck in Milan airport 30 hours last year in similar no notice strike actions. I see nothing has been learned. Why should we put up with inefficient airlines clogging up valuable airport space for the sake of national pride?
Robert Thirlby, Castellon, Spain

It's crazy. The company must be on the verge of bankruptcy, the unions are refusing to allow the necessary restructuring, yet at this rate there will be no Alitalia for the unions to represent in the not so distant future. Then no-one who is currently employed by Alitalia will have a job. I have been working in the Airline industry for two years now, previously working in Publishing and IT industry, and I can honestly say it is/was the worst run industry I have ever seen, although that is now beginning to change in many airlines.
Julian, Geneva, Switzerland

I grew up outside of Italy and have only recently moved back. As a result I still travel frequently. I refuse to use Alitalia precisely because of this kind of behaviour. When will the workers of Italy realize that with this kind of action they will eventually all go home? If companies don't have at least some freedom to adapt to changing circumstances this result is inevitable. The unions in Italy have done a great disservice to the workers they represent and the country as a whole. The CEO of Alitalia apparently told workers "We are helping the competition, handing them our passengers." He is absolutely right. They are turning customers away and those that are gone are very difficult to regain. In a free market this means you eventually pack up and go home and no amount of striking will help.
Marco S, Lucca, Italy

Alitalia should not be bailed out, but its workers should not hold the government to ransom. Restructuring a state owned airline is possible. Look at Aer Lingus. It is now, after restructuring, highly profitable and it is valued at a higher level now than at any time in its history. Job losses are inevitable but the future would be very bright for the other 84% of workers not threatened by dismissal.
Dan Barry, Dublin, Ireland

I have family connections employed by Alitalia. The only way to describe the Unions actions in the imminent disintergration of Alitalia is disgraceful. The members of all of the unions involved should ask some searching questions of their union leaders to try to understand their completely incompetent handling of their futures. If they had any understanding of the Union system they should have learned their lesson from the actions of British unions of 20 years ago. Job cuts have been inevitable for over a year and probably should be more like 25% than 16%. If they really were representing their members' interests they should have worked with management to achieve generous redundancy packages and secured a future for the company. The management and government should also shoulder blame for taking their cowardly stance to the unions, instead of wasting further money on streams of consultants to tell them what they are employed to realise. I have moved to Italy from the UK and really love the country and its people, but their leaders and unions are a disgrace.
Steve Minchington , Rome

Alitalia is going to disappear soon, and the passengers can breathe again. I don't believe that they'll be joining anything (KLM, Air France), because their reputation in the airline market is damaged beyond repair. This airline is doomed, and all the employees on strike will be jobless anyway.
Giacomo, Roma, Italy

Alitalia should be allowed state aid in order to restructure itself. Other European airlines such as Air France have consistently received huge government aid (against EU regulations) in past years and thus been able to become profitable. In addition, EU lobbies aimed at preventing development of Milan's Malpensa airport have seriously damaged Alitalia to the benefit of its competitors. Is this fair competition or rather organized boycott by other nations for the benefit of their national carriers? Alitalia must live!!!
Mark, Rome, Italy