We'll close Alitalia deal by Oct

(ANSA) - Rome, October 17 - The government will "close" a deal on saving Alitalia by the end of October and "I think we will close it well," Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said Wednesday.
    The government last week proposed turning the ailing former flag carrier into a newco with the State and rail company Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) taking a stake, so as to make it a flag carrier once more.
    Toninelli said "the thousands of staff must be tranquil and confident that it will be a national carrier which will relaunch tourism".
    Also on Wednesday a technical meeting took place between FS CEO Gianfranco Battisti and Alitalia's government-appointed commissioners.
    FS presented a non-binding manifestation of interest in Alitalia on Friday and have for the last few days been in the 'data room' examining the accounts.