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EasyJet withdraws from proposed Alitalia consortium | EasyJet withdraws from proposed Alitalia consortium |
(32 minutes later) | |
Easyjet has abandoned talks to join a consortium that would have bid for Italian carrier Alitalia. | Easyjet has abandoned talks to join a consortium that would have bid for Italian carrier Alitalia. |
The budget airline had been considering teaming up with Italy's state-controlled railway Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Delta Air Lines of the US. | The budget airline had been considering teaming up with Italy's state-controlled railway Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Delta Air Lines of the US. |
Alitalia was went into administration in May 2017 after workers rejected a plan to cut jobs and salaries. | Alitalia was went into administration in May 2017 after workers rejected a plan to cut jobs and salaries. |
The airline continued to operate, propped up by the government, which has been looking for a buyer. | The airline continued to operate, propped up by the government, which has been looking for a buyer. |
The three parties had entered discussions in February about potentially forming a consortium, although at the time Easyjet said it was not certain whether a transaction for Alitalia would materialise. | The three parties had entered discussions in February about potentially forming a consortium, although at the time Easyjet said it was not certain whether a transaction for Alitalia would materialise. |
Delta remains in talks with Ferrovie: "Discussions remain ongoing as Alitalia is a long-standing partner of Delta," a statement from the US airline said. | |
The Italian government has set an end-of-March deadline for the two to come up with a rescue plan for Alitalia. | |
Meanwhile, EasyJet said Italy would remain a big market for the airline. | |
"EasyJet remains committed to Italy, as a key market for the company, where it currently carries 18.5 million passengers every year and employs 1,400 pilots and crew, all on local contracts," the firm said in a statement. | "EasyJet remains committed to Italy, as a key market for the company, where it currently carries 18.5 million passengers every year and employs 1,400 pilots and crew, all on local contracts," the firm said in a statement. |
"We continue to invest in the three bases in Milan, Naples, Venice, as we have done by basing additional aircraft in Venice and Naples last summer." | "We continue to invest in the three bases in Milan, Naples, Venice, as we have done by basing additional aircraft in Venice and Naples last summer." |
Rome-based Alitalia has been the recipient of a £789m state loan and has been looking for international partners to keep it in business. | Rome-based Alitalia has been the recipient of a £789m state loan and has been looking for international partners to keep it in business. |
Irish budget airline Ryanair had expressed an interest in Alitalia shortly after it entered administration two years ago, but quickly said it was dropping the idea. | Irish budget airline Ryanair had expressed an interest in Alitalia shortly after it entered administration two years ago, but quickly said it was dropping the idea. |
At the time the Irish airline was struggling to contain the fallout from a pilot shortage, which led to the cancellation of flights for about 700,000 passengers. | At the time the Irish airline was struggling to contain the fallout from a pilot shortage, which led to the cancellation of flights for about 700,000 passengers. |
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