Lufthansa is not interested in
Alitalia as it stands but could be interested if it is
restructured to its liking, the CEO of the German airline,
Carsten Spohr, said Thursday.
"We remain ready if a chance is offered to us," said Spohr
after reporting record 2017 profits up 33% to 2.36 billion
euros.
"However, I'm sorry to be boring, but I must repeat that
Alitalia in its present conditions is not interesting for us.
"A restructured Alitalia would be".
Spohr sent a letter January 11 to Italian Industry Minister
Carlo Calenda telling him that the German airline would only be
willing to acquire Alitalia after major restructuring.
"While recognising the valuable measures that have been
undertaken to date... we strongly believe that there remains a
considerable amount of work to be achieved before Lufthansa
would be in the position to enter comprehensively into the next
phase of the process," Spohr said in the letter.
Under Lufthansa control the company would be smaller in terms
of both staff and fleet, it said.
Alitalia was put into extraordinary administration last year
after workers voted against a restructuring plan.
Calenda has said the government is considering three offers
for the former flag carrier.
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