Confusion surrounds the future of Alitalia following the Italian Stock Exchange”s decision to suspend the carrier”s shares this morning (22 April).
The crisis-stricken airline saw its last hope of a rescue package from Air France-KLM disappear last night with the Franco-Dutch company finally walking away from protracted negotiations that appeared to founder on union opposition.
”Air France-KLM indicated to the Italian company that the contractual commitments taken on 14 March to launch a public exchange offer for Alitalia were no longer valid,” noted a statement from Paris.
The decision now leaves the way open for other potential airlines, including former suitor Aeroflot to re-table any bids ” particularly now that Italy has a new government after Silvio Berlusconi”s recent election victory.
The Italian Cabinet is due to meet tomorrow to discuss the situation amid fevered speculation following Berlusconi”s meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin last week.
An Alitalia spokeswoman also told ABTN from Rome that the unions ” an apparent sticking point for Air France ” were due to meet the Italian airline officials on Thursday morning, although even this was not sure.
She also remained tightlipped on Alitalia”s latest solvency situation, confining herself to noting: ”From one month to another, there is a difficulty ” you can imagine ” I really don”t know if the Cabinet will approve more money.”
Any further State aid could well attract the attention of the European Commission (EC) ” ”With the EC, everything is very confused,” added the spokeswoman.
Aeroflot confirmed that it was looking at the Alitalia situation as the carrier noted to ABTN from Moscow: ”We expect to receive an offer to return to negotiations with the Italian side, but in discussing Aeroflot”s role with Alitalia, our company will be guided by practical considerations,” she said.
Berlusconi indicated during the general election that he would prefer an Italian solution to Alitalia”s dire economic condition, which has lurched from bad to worse in recent times.
Existing Italian carrier Air One had previously expressed an interest and maintains it still does, but says it needs to ”view their [Alitalia”s] accounts” in order to carry out due diligence.