The public prosecutor for the city of Civitavecchia has opened an enquiry into strikes at the Italian flag-ship airline Alitalia on the grounds the disruption of the airlines schedules may be considered an interruption of a public service.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled since 19 January when cabin crews called a 24-hour strike which quickly spread into other sectors of Alitalia staff at Romes international airport at Fiumicino. The ailing airline has recently reached agreement on private international investment for recapitalization but now has to overhaul of its staffing policy, which will involve job losses and the transfer of employees away from home. The trade unions, who met with the government on 25 January, have now called for a halt to what they call "extreme" forms of industrial action, at least until a new meeting with the government set for 1 February.