A tax decree issued Friday
earmarked 300 million more euros to struggling airline Alitalia.
The deadline to repay a bridge loan was also moved back, to
September 2018.
The fiscal decree approved by the cabinet includes the
extension of Alitalia's bridge loan, sources close to the
dossier said Friday.
The troubled former flag-carrier was granted a
600-million-euro bridge loan to keep it operating earlier this
year after being put into extraordinary administration.
The government is looking for a buyer for the airline.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Sporhr said Thursday that the German
airline would be interested in taking over Alitalia only if it
were possible to make a fresh start with it.
"It there were a chance of creating a new Alitalia, as
Europe's number one (carrier) Lufthansa would certainly be
interested in the talks," Sporhr was quoted as saying by German
media.
"Italy is an important market for us. (But) Alitalia as it is
today is not an issue".
Alitalia is currently in emergency administration and its
commissioners are looking for a new buyer willing to acquire the
whole airline.
Lufthansa is buying parts of failed German carrier Air
Berlin.
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