Italy’s state-run postal service is being approached to take a stake in Alitalia in a last-ditch effort to prevent the national carrier going into bankruptcy for the second time in four years.
A government statement said Poste Italiane would become “an important industrial partner” in Alitalia’s recapitalisation, according to the Financial Times.
Local media reports suggest that the postal group could buy 10% to 15% of the airline for about €75 million under an overall recapitalisation plan and new bank loans that would total some €500 million.
The country’s state-controlled energy company Eni warned it would cut off a credit line for fuel supplies this weekend unless Alitalia came up with a plan to continue operations.
Trade union officials, who are demanding government intervention, said after a meeting with Alitalia that the company, with a 14,000 workforce, had just days to avert a collapse.
Italy’s civil aviation authority Enac said after meeting executives from the airline yesterday that its situation was difficult but there were no signs it was about to halt operations, the FT reported.