The Lufthansa Group says it submitted a “concept for establishing a re-structured” Italian carrier Alitalia.
Lufthansa said in a statement it has sent an offer letter today, expressing its interest in establishing a “NewAlitalia” – which comes as it is negotiations for parts of Air Berlin.
Earlier today, a report in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera claimed the German carrier has offered €500 million ($590 million) for Alitalia’s aircraft, staff and for airport slots.
Lufthansa continued in the statement it “has opted not to make an offer for the complete airline, but has stated interest in only parts of the global network traffic and European and domestic point-to-point business”.
The offer includes a concept for a newly structured Alitalia with a focused business model (NewAlitalia), which it says could develop “long-term economic prospects”.
The deadline for suitors to submit binding bids for Alitalia was 1700 GMT today, but on Friday, Italy’s government extended this to 30 April next year, a deadline to improve the bids which had previously been set for 5 November.
On Friday, the Italian government also passed an emergency decree to add a further €300 million to the loan of €600 million it made to the loss-making carrier in May.
Italy wants to sell the whole of Alitalia in one package and avoid a split of its aviation and ground service activities.
