A Rodchenko poster shows a plane aloft with a message urging citizens to buy stock in the state-run airline.

Any conclusion that an EgyptAir pilot was responsible for the crash could subject the state-run airline to heavy liability claims.

The pilots said they would strike for two hours today, Thursday and Friday to protest lack of progress in talks between union representatives and the state-run airline.

However, in spite of its excellent service, Panair faced increasing competition from other foreign state-run airlines.

In order to obtain its three-year national bailout, Portugal was forced to sell its interests in several companies, including the state-run airline.

These state-run airlines have often been run by civil servants rather than industry executives, and unions tend to view the carriers' resources as unlimited.

A state-run domestic airline, Israel Inland Airlines, was founded in which El Al had a 50% stake.

The two state-run airlines have aging fleets and large work forces but they have started to buy new planes and are making efforts to improve service.

Such a move would make Alitalia the latest state-run European airline to get help.

It was one of a few fatal crashes in the 67-year history of Egyptair, a state-run airline that has 38 planes and flies to 85 cities.