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Former Alitalia hostesses strip off for protest

Standing in front of Rome's town hall, Campidoglio, around 50 female workers slowly removed their uniforms in silence to demonstrate against the working conditions of their colleagues re-hired by Italy's new airline company ITA Airways.

ITA started flying in place of Alitalia on Friday (October 15) after the airline that was once a symbol of Italian style and glamour was finally grounded after years of financial losses and failed rescue attempts.

The new company starts with 52 jets and 2,800 employees, compared with around 110 aircraft and a workforce of 10,000 for Alitalia.

The Italian government is due to invest 1.35 billion euros over three years in the new company that flies with the same green-white-red livery of its predecessor after having won Alitalia's iconic brand for 90 million euros.