Alitalia takeover hopes revived by Italian premier
Alitalia’s plans to partner with Air France-KLM could rise from the ashes after Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi indicated that he might favour the move.
Previously the premier had said that the deal would be “unacceptable†but he has now told French president Nicolas Sarkozy that a takeover might be “a good solutionâ€.
But talks have a long way to go, with Air France KLM saying reviving negotiations would be difficult. The carrier was deterred from forging ahead with the plans earlier this year after heavy union opposition.
Alitalia has warned that an urgent cash boost is needed to save it despite also receiving a government loan which is now the subject of EU scrutiny.
By Dinah Hatch
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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