Aero-News: Quote of the Day

ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues.

Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.

Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day.

Let us hear from you, folks!

Aero-News Quote of the Day

"It would seem peculiar to launch a new race. I see the road of negotiations with those who might show or have shown an interest as an easier way."

Source: Italian Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi. The last two remaining bidders in the auction for Italy's state-owned carrier, Alitalia, withdrew their bids Tuesday night. With less than a week to go before final offers were due, Italy was doing its best to prevent a collapse of the sale... but in the end, the strongest bidder, small domestic carrier Air One, couldn't come up with the funds to support its original bid -- and the second party, a consortium led by US investors, decided they didn't want a part of the airline, which is plagued by the familiar combination of competition from low-fare carriers, high fuel costs and labor unrest.

FMI: www.flyairone.it/en, www.alitalia.com, www.texaspacificgroup.com