Venezuelan airline Aserca is “intending” to make an offer for “all or part of” distressed Italian national flag carrier Alitalia, the ANSA news agency said.
“With the aid of (Venezuela’s) socialist government, we are certain that we can resolve a large part of the problems which have beset Alitalia and its employees,” the Italian news agency cited Aserca director-general Hugo Santoro as saying in a statement.
“Over the coming days, we will send (details of) our proposal to the special administrator (Augusto Fantozzi).”
Once-proud Alitalia sent out an SOS on Monday, publishing a final appeal on its website for investors to take over the near-bankrupt company and its fractious unions.
The move came as the head of Italy’s civil aviation authority ENAC said the airline, which is 49.9% state-owned, could be grounded by tomorrow if it does not come up with a “credible” cost-reduction plan.
A deadline of September 30 has been set for offers.
According to the ANSA news agency, the Italian government is working on the possibility of bringing in a foreign airline with at most a 30% stake into the Italian consortium CAI, which last week withdrew its bid for Alitalia after it was rejected by most of the unions.
The government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wants to keep Alitalia in Italian hands.
“I am still convinced that we must find a solution so Italy can continue to have a national (airline) company. And that goal will be achieved,” Berlusconi told ANSA.
AFP