The present crisis at Alitalia gives us armchair airline CEO's a chance to figure out what we would do to build a intercontinental airline from Italy.

For the sake of discussion, let's assume you're the CEO of Air One. You have two 332's, with orders 10 more, and a domestic network in Italy. Alitalia suddenly ceases to operate.

Longhaul aircraft available on the market (per the Speednews website) include the following:

3 343's (2 from Air Canada, one from Etihad)

4 345's (all from Thai)

6 744's (2 ex-Singapore with PW engines; 2 ex-Singapore, ex-Oasis, with PW engines; and 2 ex-South African with GE engines)

16 763's from various airlines

Alitalia's fleet of 10 763's and 10 772's may also be available.

Of the potential longhaul destinations that Alitalia served, ten are easily within the range of the 763 (YYZ, BOS, JFK, EWR, MIA, ORD, CCS, ACC, LOS, DXB), four are within 5900 to 6000 miles (NRT, KIX, GRU, LAX), and one is around 7000 miles (EZE). Serving NRT would require slots, which would be difficult to get.

What presently available aircraft would you add to your fleet? What destinations would you serve? Would you serve these from FCO or MXP? And would your plans change if AF or BA or another airline snapped up AZ's 772's?

If it were to be run to the financial success of AZ, then why not add 40 ex RAF VC10s to the fleet and burn money and fuel (which isnt paid for).

In all seriousness, does anyone think that BA or KLM/AF will jump into the italian market?

Somebody will jump very quickly into the Italien market. At least the market out of Milan is very interesting.