Alitalia, the airline that has flown popes, princes and prima donnas, was reborn as a smaller, privately-owned carrier amid chaos on Tuesday as protests by disgruntled employees delayed or cancelled inaugural flights.
Once a symbol of Italy's post-war economic boom, Alitalia filed for bankruptcy last year, succumbing to labour strife, high costs and mismanagement. A group of Italian investors bought its best parts, leaving the rest to the Italian state.
After months of haggling with unions and frenetic talks with politicians seeking to save local airports, Alitalia flight AZ 676 to Sao Paolo took off promptly at 5:10 a.m. british time from Milan in the carrier's virgin flight under a new network and new owners.
"We've done it. There's no turning back from the new Alitalia now and all the prophets of misfortune have been silenced," said Labour Minister Maurizio Sacconi, whose government had made saving Alitalia a top priority.
But the airline's first domestic flight took off 20 minutes late and 11 flights at Milan's Linate airport were cancelled because all gates for planes were occupied.
In a reminder of the old challenges facing the reshaped carrier, Alitalia workers wary of the impact from a new alliance with Air France-KLM demonstrated at Milan's Malpensa airport by chanting slogans and waving union banners, causing delays.
At Rome's Fiumicino airport, delays of more than two hours were reported as workers marched outside.
Alitalia's unions have been bickering with its new owners for months, accusing them of not respecting prior agreements. Alitalia CEO Rocco Sabelli said the unions were mainly unhappy with their pick of a new cleaning service.
Alitalia was merged with the Italian airline Air One that offers regular flights from Rome Fumicino and Milano Linate to Alghero.
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