Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi has stated that if Alitalia shareholder Air France-KLM refuses to grant an equity injection, the airline will be free to find a new international partner. He said: "If Air France believes in Alitalia, it will participate in the capital increase. If it doesn't, it will give Alitalia and the government the possibility to find an international partner.”
It has been previously reported that Air France-KLM will only approve the injection of more funds into Alitalia but with the loss of 5,000 jobs – a point denied by the airline group. Further conditions are reported to have included changes to its board of directors and the creation of a debt restructuring plan.
Meanwhile, Alitalia is on the brink of bankruptcy, with ENI close to ground its fleet for not payment of fuel debts.