(ANSAmed) - PARIS/ROME, APRIL 30 - Air France's managing
director has told Les Echos in an interview that it may
re-invest in Italian carrier Alitalia, depending on the outcome
of talks between the Italian flagship carrier and Etihad.
Alitalia is negotiating with Abu Dhabi's Etihad after Air
France-KLM refused to take part in a capital increase last year,
and the negotiations will continue after a letter received from
Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
''I am looking forward to seeing what comes of it,'' he
said, noting that Air France-KLM had set conditions similar to
Etihad's.
Italy's minister of transport Maurizio Lupi said that ''any
alliance will be assessed on the basis of an industrial plan,
which cannot be a relaunch and development plan'' for Alitalia,
an airline ''which must regain its rightful place as a large
international company'' and not a ''regional one''.
Etihad's plan ''will be assessed from this standpoint''.
Lupi said that ''any potential Etihad-Alitalia alliance will
be one that the government holds to be complementary and
strategic for possible expansion''. (ANSAmed).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
