To last as long as possible they’re taking the 400m euro loan in stages- so far they’ve recieved 150m euros. This buys them time- but instead of doing something constructive with this time they’re just trying to go out with a bang, maybe pick up a customer service award or two- so they are basically prolonging the final collapse. This could be something to do with the Italian general election next year- Mr Berlusconis government is hugely unpopular due to the Iraq war and Italys failing economy. They suffered a landslide defeat in the regional elections this year and are expected to suffer the same fate next year, so are pulling out all the stops to win back support. So far this has failed- Italys economy has gone into recession and the countries two biggest employers, Fiat Auto & Alitalia, are on the verge of bankruptcy. So, politics has alot to do with Alitalias affairs, and from now to the end Alitalia will not be aiming to return to profitability, just to leave a legacy as a class benchmark amoung European airlines, and to give Mr Berlusconi a final election chance.