Workers march over Volare job fears
ROME --Hundreds of workers who risk losing their jobs in the near-collapse of Volare Group marched through Milan on Monday, before a board of directors meeting at the low-cost airline to discuss a possible recapitalization or bankruptcy protection.
The airline grounded its planes and suspended ticket sales Friday because of financial difficulties. The Italian government said it is working to try and pass measures aimed at keeping the company afloat.
The board of directors meeting, which was under way, was expected to discuss what steps should be taken next. The company could call for a recapitalization or decide to seek bankruptcy protection.
Hours before the board meeting, hundreds of Volare employees gathered in front of the company's headquarters in Gallarate, a Milan suburb, and then moved to the city's center.
The workers, waving banners reading "Do Not Break Our Wings," and "We Want to Fly. And You?" have reportedly not been paid for months. They are demanding swift action be taken to rescue the company.
"Time has been wasted so far," union official Franco Fedele, who was at the protest, was quoted as saying by the Apcom news agency. "But now planes are grounded and there's no time anymore."
Labor Minister Roberto Maroni indicated Sunday that the government would pass a decree at its next Cabinet meeting -- expected this week -- enabling an extraordinary commissioner to be named. The approach would be similar to the one being used to rescue dairy giant Parmalat SpA.
Maroni said Monday the crisis at Volare is as serious as that at Parmalat, and said that "200,000 tickets have been sold, and so there are at least 200,000 travelers who own a ticket that is worthless."
Volare Group, which served 20 destinations in Italy and Europe with a fleet of 24 airplanes, is a holding company that includes both Volare Airlines SpA, which operates scheduled services, and AirEurope SpA, which runs charter flights. Both companies were affected by the freeze.
Volare Group employs 1,400 people. It was founded in 1998 by a group of investors in northeastern Italy and later merged with Air Europe. 