EasyJet pulls out of Alitalia talks
EasyJet has withdrawn from talks with Italian state-owned rail operator Ferrovie and Delta Air Lines about making a rescue bid for loss-making Alitalia.
The three were planning to form a partnership to run Alitalia, which went into special administration two years ago.
In a statement on Monday afternoon, easyJet said it was withdrawing from the process.
It added: "EasyJet remains committed to Italy, as a key market for the company, where it currently carries 18.5 million passengers every year and employs 1400 pilots and crew, all on local contracts.
"We continue to invest in the three bases in Milan, Naples, Venice, as we have done by basing additional aircraft in Venice and Naples last summer."
Delta said it remains in talks with Ferrovie. "Discussions remain ongoing as Alitalia is a long-standing partner of Delta," it said.
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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