MILAN — Alitalia unions are mounting a 24-hour ****** to ******* job and salary cuts that are part of the new plan to relaunch the struggling Italian *******.

The carrier, which is controlled by Emirates-based Etihad Airways, said the ****** Wednesday was forcing the cancellation of 60% of flights. It said it was using bigger aircraft on its busiest routes and that more than 90% of passengers had been rebooked.

Unions say the plan announced last month lacks credibility with a view to short-term savings without a longer-term growth plans.

The Italian news agency ANSA says the government has been meeting with the Italian shareholders, which control 51 per cent of the *******, to come up with an investment to help the ******* return to health.