Transport Minister Graziano
Delrio said Tuesday there was "absolutely" no need to extend a
bridge loan for Alitalia in order to help the ailing former
national flag carrier find a buyer.
"There is no need as of today, for the assessments we can
make today there is absolutely no need" to extend the loan,
Delrio said in Brussels.
Alitalia Extraordinary Commissioner Luigi Gubitosi said
recently that the airline still had most of the bridge loan
granted by the government when it went into administration
earlier this year.
As a result, there is no rush to find a new owner, Gubitosi
said.
"(On November 20) Alitalia had 849.6 million euros (of the
900 million bridge loan)," Gubitosi said at the Biztravel forum.
He said talks for a takeover were being held "with a few
bodies".
"We are not in a rush to wrap things up, because being solid,
stable and strong enables us not to have to close in a hurry,"
he said.
"That does not mean that we will not close as soon as
possible.
"We have the luxury of being able to select the best offer".
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