Company criticises trade union for 24-hour strike.

Alitalia employees are holding a 24-hour strike on Friday 24 July over claims that the company has not provided adequate guarantees for the security of around 1,000 jobs after their contracts expire next February.

Alitalia has slammed the strike action, saying the issues in question have already been resolved with trade unions representing pilots, flight attendants and ground crew.

The company has cancelled about 15 per cent of its short- and medium-range flights on 24 July, describing the cancellations as "disrespectful" to passengers and colleagues. It also criticised the timing of the strike which occurs "just when Fiumicino is trying to return to normality" following the reopening of Terminal 3 after its two-month partial closure over the fire in May.

The strike affects Alitalia and its regional subsidiary Cityliner but excludes the airports of Bari, Brindisi and Genoa. The strike will not affect flights to North or South America, or the Far East.

Alitalia advises all its passengers scheduled to fly on 24 July to check their flight status before travelling to the airport.

In late 2014 Alitalia was saved from bankruptcy after Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad Airways made a €1.76 billion investment to acquire a 49 per cent in the struggling Italian company.

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