O'Leary says wd keep most Alitalia staff (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, August 31 - Ryanair will keep most of Alitalia's staff, "especially the pilots and engineers", if its offer for the Italian airline is accepted, CEO Michael O'Leary said Thursday, according to Bloomberg. The Alitalia brand will also be maintained, he said. O'Leary said the budget airline would be interested in Alitalia's fleet if, as he said appears likely, the Italian airline is chopped into pieces, Bloomberg reported. Alitalia is awaiting investor interest after staff rejected a tough restructuring plan that was aimed at turning round the chronically loss-making airline.