Forbes.com: Investors OK Air France Alitalia Bid - by Lionel Laurent
Investors OK Air France Alitalia Bid - by Lionel Laurent
Thursday's bidding deadline for struggling Italian airline Alitalia contained an unexpected last-minute surprise, as Air France-KLM expressed its interest publicly with a proposal to "win back the Italian market." It is the only major international carrier so far in the running, and investors in both airlines reacted positively to the news.
According to van den Brul, Air France's aim would be to invest in the unprofitable Italian airline's turnaround rather than offer a straight purchase price. He said Alitalia needed to prove its worth by first restructuring its fleet and improving efficiency, and that any assistance from Air France would be dependent on future performance.
Labels: Airline Industry, EU
