Air France Sees Stronger Alitalia Role In SkyTeam
January 13, 2009
Air France-KLM said on Tuesday Alitalia's role within the international SkyTeam airline alliance would be strengthened by its deal with the Franco-Dutch airline.
Air France chief executive Jean-Cyril Spinetta told a news conference it was too early to comment on a possible bourse listing for the newly revamped Alitalia.
On Monday, Alitalia agreed to sell a 25 percent stake to Air France-KLM for EUR323 million euros (USD$429.5 million), giving it wider access to Europe's fourth biggest travel market after years of courtship.
Alitalia, which filed for bankruptcy in August last year, was formally relaunched on Tuesday as a smaller, regional carrier with fewer staff and a revamped network under the ownership of the CAI group of investors.
The Air France-KLM deal will not prevent Alitalia from managing its affairs autonomously, and Spinetta said on Tuesday that it would be up to Alitalia to decide on its hub strategy.
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