ALITALIA struggles on following an Italian government loan promise of up to E400m which does need the approval of the European Commission. This so-called ”state aid” is being hotly contested by other competing airlines and comes after a succession of financial crisis at the Italian state carrier and a never-ending change of management. Alitalia pins its future hopes on a successful relationship with the merged Air France/KLM although the Dutch carrier has in recent times walked away from a deal. With the holiday season now imminent (and that must not get in the way in the life or death of the airline) a deadline for a new business plan by September looks unlikely.
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