Italy, Brussels to issue Alitalia renewed hammer next week

ROME (Reuters) – Rome and Brussels will begin talks next week to find out technical details for resuscitation of ill carrier Alitalia, three Italian ministers said after what they said was the first meeting “Progressive and helpful” between the two sides on Friday.

The new Italian government held a video call with EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager on Rome’s plan to nationalize Alitalia, said the three ministers, who were involved in the call. They said they had agreed with Brussels that it was necessary to ensure economic instability between the old airline and a proposed new carrier.

Italy has earmarked 3 billion euros ($ 3.6 billion) to replace Alitalia, which is run by state-appointed administrators, with a new state-owned airline called ITA. since his bankruptcy was declared in 2017.

Rome and Brussels will begin talks next week on “possible solutions to ensure that the new aircraft is created as soon as possible in accordance with national and European legal procedures,” economy ministers said. , transport and Italian industry in a joint statement on Friday.

A state-backed flag bearer needs the green light from the European Commission, which has called for an open offer of Alitalia assets and urges the new airline to abandon its old brand and some of its airport slots .

The Alitalia administrator complained last month that it would take four to five months to set up an open bid, when the company would incur further losses, when the new one would be pushed back to mid-range. the summer.

To thwart the project, Rome could begin a process for the direct sale of Alitalia’s aviation business to ITA in the short term, one business source told Reuters, adding maintenance and handling departments sold with an open offer in diog. ceum.

Separately, USAerospace Partners Chairman Michele Roosevelt Edwards said she had requested a meeting with the Italian government over Alitalia and said the American air service group was ready to invest $ 1.5 billion in the vehicle.

USAerospace said a partnership with ITA and the Italian government could have more chances of success than launching a “small company without the necessary mass”.

($ 1 = 0.8379 euros)