Italian national airline company Alitalia was forced to cancel 225 departing and incoming flights on Friday due to a strike by pilots, ground and cabin staff, according to Italian News Agency ANSA.

 

Unions called the strike to protest against the crisis at the national carrier which is set to be fully privatized within the next six months.

 

The Italian government announced on Thursday that it has chosen Merrill Lynch to be its financial advisor for the sale of at least 30.1 percent of Alitalia.

 

Terms for potential are expected to be made public before the end of the year.

 

In reference to the airline's accounts, Italy's Economy Minister Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa told the Senate on Wednesday that from 1996 through the first nine months of 2006, Alitalia lost 3.1 billion euros.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2006)