(ANSA) - ROME, APR 22 - Premier Mario Draghi's government has
okayed an advance of 50 million euros to Alitalia as part of aid
for revenues lost in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions in order
to enable the troubled airline to pay workers' salaries for
April, sources said on Thursday.
The loss-making former flag-carrier has been in extraordinary
administration for years and the pandemic has made its plight
even worse.
The government wants to restructure the airline, via the launch
of new State-controlled company, ITA.
According to the plan, ITA would get State cash to buy many of
Alitalia's assets and it would hire around 11,000 of its
workers.
But the negations between Rome and Brussels on how to allow the
move to proceed while complying with EU law are proving tough.
The European Commission has asked ITA to show there will be
"discontinuity", reportedly asking for the Alitalia name to be
dropped and many of the carrier's slots at Milan's Linate
airport to be released.
The 50-million-euro advance is part of an estimated 350 million
set aside to Alialia to help cover 2020 losses, 195 million of
which have already been paid out.
It was given the green light in an article in the decree
approved by cabinet on Wednesday setting out the system of
COVID-19 restrictions that will be in force from next week, the
source said. (ANSA).
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