ALITALIA is pushing KLM to pay E171.5m or offer equivalent guarantees following a Dutch arbitration court decision last month. This was due by last Friday. An Alitalia spokesman said the figure represented the total fine, minus sums involving Rome”s Malpensa airport plus Alitalia's legal costs, which the Dutch arbitrator said KLM had to meet. KLM explained that it was trying to find ways other than cash to settle the penalty. At the same time the Italian airline noted that KLM was interested in negotiating joining the SkyTeam marketing alliance, which also includes Air France and Delta. An interesting bargaining situation, which no doubt potential partner BA is watching too! Alitalia said the payment from KLM would help it post a net profit for full-year 2002, compared with a net loss of E907m in 2001. But it called the outlook for 2003 "difficult". http://www.alitalia.com