Italy eyes Alitalia relaunch with private, industrial offers

ROME – The Italian government is hoping the Alitalia airline will turn a new page after four private investors expressed an interest in joining the state railway, the Italian treasury and Delta Air Lines in trying once again to relaunch the struggling flagship carrier.

Monday marked the deadline for offers of partners to help relaunch Alitalia, which declared bankruptcy two years ago. Alitalia has long suffered from competition from low-cost carriers and been unable to come up with a successful plan to establish itself as a player in lucrative, long-haul routes.

Italian Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio said four offers had arrived ahead of Monday’s deadline: The Atlantia group of the Benetton empire; German Efromovich of Colombian carrier Avianca; Carlo Toto, whose Air One airline was acquired by Alitalia in 2009; and businessman Claudio Lotito.