EasyJet makes new bid for Alitalia
EasyJet has made a new bid for Italy’s bankrupt national airline Alitalia.
It said details of its revised expression of interest were confidential and gave no further information.
In a statement, the airline said: "There is no certainty at this stage that any transaction will proceed and easyJet will provide a further update in due course, if and when appropriate."
EasyJet said its interest in a restructured Alitalia, which has been submitted in response to the new government’s ongoing sales process, was consistent with its existing strategy for Italy.
German airline Lufthansa and budget carrier Wizz Air have previously also submitted expressions of interest for Alitalia or parts of the airline and on Tuesday Italy’s state-owned railway group Ferrovie dello Stato said it would also make a takeover offer for the bankrupt carrier.
Last month, easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren revealed he was still talking to the Italian government with a view to acquiring Alitalia’s short-haul operations. However, talks had been delayed by the time it had taken for a new government to be established.
Alitalia went into government-controlled administration last year and was kept afloat by Italian state loans of €900 million. The Italian government is supposed to recoup that money by December 15 and wrap up bankruptcy procedures by finding a new buyer for the airline.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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