Alitalia CEO says strike 'incomprehensible'

(ANSA) - Rome, July 1 - Alitalia CEO Cramer Ball on Friday said he found a strike scheduled by flight attendants and pilots on July 5 ''incomprehensible'' in a letter to employees, viewed by ANSA.
    ''It is incomprehensible that unions are ready to damage our clients and affect Alitalia's business to defend the privileges of a part of employees'', Ball wrote in the letter.
    The CEO added that he has written to unions asking them to have ''a wider perspective of Alitalia's future development and do the right thing, calling of the strike''.
    The long-struggling former flag-carrier is trying to turn itself around and get back to profitability after Etihad Airways bought a 49% stake in it in an agreement that became operative at the start of last year.