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Take off instead of taking off.
Around 50 stewardesses stripped down to their underwear in front of the city hall in Rome, slowly and in silence.
Out of protest.
Until recently, the women worked for the airline Alitalia, and they were part of a total of 10,000 employees.
Now many of them are unemployed - and are defending themselves publicly.
The airline has long been a symbol of Italian style and glamor, and popes regularly flew around the world.
In September Pope Francis was a passenger on an Alitalia flight.
But now, after 75 years, the Arlinie is history.
It ceased operations last week.
For years the company had financial problems, the many rescue attempts and cash injections did not help, in the end the pandemic gave the airline the rest. On Thursday the last plane landed in Rome, to the disappointment of many employees.
Alitalia employee:
“We are very sad. I worked here for more than 30 years. That's the saddest thing that could have happened. We're all sorry. "
" I can't speak at all, it feels like my father has died all over again. All I can say is: it hurts a lot. "
" Leaving this company after 34 years, for which you have worked for your entire life, which is like a family, is very difficult. I'm going to retire soon, but I think of my colleagues who have to keep working in worse conditions. That's not nice."
With Italia Transporto Aereo, or ITA for short, there is a new national airline. It started operations last Friday. The problem: She only took over 2,800 of Alitalia's 10,000 or so employees. And - so the accusation - at significantly worse terms. There had already been protests last week.
Rosa Scognamiglia, flight attendant at Alitalia:
»Today the new company ITA was born - to the detriment of the old company Alitalia.
I can say that this new company is a fake.
It was born from the ashes of the old company, uses all the Alitalia material, planes, take-off and landing rights and the initials on the tickets.
Although everything is still labeled as Alitalia, ITA is introduced as a new company.
The only thing that has not been taken over is 8,000 employees who are left behind. "
The Italian government is to invest 1.35 billion euros in the state airline over three years.
This one flies with the same green-white-red livery from Alitalia.
Because the company bought the brand of the old airline - for 90 million euros.
Last week's loud protest was followed by the silent demonstration in Rome.
These women are also resisting the fact that so many jobs have been cut and salaries cut.
In doing so, they also show their solidarity with their colleagues who have been taken on.
There was loud applause from the bystanders for their action.
