Lufthansa sent Italian railways
company FS a letter on Tuesday putting itself forward as a
commercial partner in the newco for the new Alitalia, sources
said on Wednesday.
FS is the leading member of a group of investors ready to
back a possible rescue of the troubled former flag carrier,
which has been in extraordinary administration since 2017, along
with Benetton-led Atlantia and Delta Air Lines.
"We have always said that the Italian market is very
important for us," a Lufthansa spokesman told ANSA, saying the
company did not want to comment on rumours.
He also said that the German airline had always voiced
interest in a "restructured Alitalia", via a commercial
partnership.
Atlantia, the partner company of Italian motorway group
Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI), recently raised doubts about the
rescue plan and said it may not be able to take part if it
continues to risk losing its highway concessions.
ASPI is accused of failing to take the necessary action to
prevent the Morandi-bridge collapse in Genoa last year in which
43 people died.
Luciano Benetton, the Benetton Group's executive chairman,
suggested Wednesday that he would like to see Lufthansa involved
in the new Alitalia.
"The aim must be to give Alitalia a real future, not a delay
or a transitory solution," Luciano Benetton told ANSA at an
event in London.
"I have seen what Lufthansa did in the acquisition of other
airlines.
"Lufthansa has lots of experience and the Alitalia project
should have technical and management experience too".
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