|
Italy in talks with foreign company to save Alitalia: Berlusconi
2008-08-07
ROME (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Thursday talks were being held with a "large foreign company" about forming an alliance with Alitalia to save the cash-strapped national airline from bankruptcy. "We're aiming for Italy to have a profit-making national carrier," Berlusconi told national news channel TG1. "We have a plan, we have the shareholders, we have the necessary funds, we're talking to a large foreign company to form an alliance that would make a difference internationally," he said. The Italian government said late last month it had pulled together enough funds to rescue the airline, which has been surviving on a loan of 300 million euros (471 million dollars) made in late April from public funds after talks for an Air France-KLM takeover collapsed. State-controlled Alitalia employs 11,100 people in airline transportation while 8,300 work in maintenance for AZ Servizi, controlled by a public holding company. It recorded pre-tax losses of 215 million euros in the first quarter of this year.
|  |
 Berlusconi sparks feminist backlash in Italy (2009-10-20) | | Berlusconi, pope meet 1st time since sex scandal (2009-09-26) | | Taliban leader Omar says foreign troops face defeat (2009-09-19) | | Claim Sarkozy used short people as props hits Web (2009-09-08) | | G8 rifts emerge as economic danger signs spied (2009-07-08) | | US, other wealthy nations vow global warming cuts (2009-07-08) | | G8 welcomes developing states, eyes climate and trade (2009-07-08) | | 'Worst to come' warning as G8 leaders gather (2009-07-07) | | Mullen: Strike on Iran an option, but a bad one (2009-07-07) | | NATO and Russia resume military ties (2009-06-27) | | Obama: Iranian voters' voices should be heard (2009-06-15) | | Hopes dim in search for survivors of Italian quake (2009-04-11) | | Officials say 70 dead, 1,500 hurt in Italy quake (2009-04-06) | | Strong quake in Italy kills over 150, wounds 1,500 (2009-04-06) | | NATO tackles Afghan tactics, leadership wrangle (2009-04-04) | | G7 host Italy dives deep into recession (2009-02-13) | | Ferre bankruptcy warning as luxury market falls (2009-02-09) | | Italian woman in right-to-die debate dies (2009-02-09) | | Italian Senate tries to halt mercy killing (2009-02-09) | | Dramatic end for Italy's right-to-die coma woman (2009-02-09) | | Italy gov't weighs in right to die case (2009-02-06) | | France's First Lady Carla Bruni: A Traitor to Italy? (2009-01-30) | | 60,000 auto jobs at risk in Italy: Fiat chief (2009-01-26) | | 700 illegal migrants break out of Italian centre: official (2009-01-24) | | Italy will sign EU climate plan with revision clause: report (2008-10-19) |
|
|
|
|
|
