When the posturing in labor relations turns so ugly and public that management makes statements that will scare away customers, things are truly an intractable mess. Such is Alitalia, where the company says they don’t have enough money for fuel and will have to start flight cancellations on Monday.

Foreign suitors are making noises about pulling their offer to infuse cash because the unions won’t agree to contract concessions. The Prime Minister says he won’t let the flag carrier fail, despite E.U. laws Italy has already violated in subsidizing the airline…

Will Alitalia rise from the ashes once more? It’s one of the few companies to which I’d just assume say good riddance, I still resent them from cancelling all the miles from their ‘old’ frequent flyer program and starting anew. Still, it’s hard enough to redeem award tickets on Skyteam carriers it would be a shame to lose one.