Alitalia must remain private - Calenda (3)

(ANSA) - Rome, March 22 - Industry Minister Carlo Calenda on Wednesday ruled out nationalising loss-making airline Alitalia or taking a major stake in it to ensure it has enough cash to turn itself round. Alitalia, he said, "is and must remain a private company and the impact on the State budget must be reduced to the minium indispensable," he said at question time.
    "Alitalia is an important firm for a country that lives off exports and tourism," Calenda said.
    "The government intends to support, within limits, the restructuring process and oversee the implementation of the business plan".
    Alitalia has announced 2,000 job cuts among ground staff in a painful restructuring plan aimed at staunching its losses and returning to profit.