Italian Prime Minister
Romano Prodi and French
President Jacques Chirac are
expected to discuss the
possibility of an alliance
between Alitalia and Air
France airlines at
Friday's meeting, sources
said in Rome on Wednesday.
Sources said Alitalia "is a
question which is very dear
to Prodi's heart" and the
possibility of an alliance
with Air France will be one
of the topics on the agenda
of the talks with President
Chirac.
Air France has been on the
short list of possible
partners for the troubled
Italian carrier and already
holds a 2 percent stake in
Alitalia. Last year, the
French airline shelled out
20 million euros to take
part in the Italian
carrier's rights issue in
order to maintain its quota.
The two airlines are
cooperating in the Sky Team
alliance of nine airlines
which includes Delta,
Northwest and Continental of
the
United States, AeroMexico,
Korean Air, CSA
Czech Airlines and KLM
Royal Dutch airlines, which
is merging with Air France
to create Europe's biggest
carrier.
Alitalia last week reported
fresh losses of 65.8 million
euros in the third quarter
compared with a 15.7 million
euro profit a year earlier.
The Italian carrier, which
has not reported an annual
profit since 2002, warned
that total losses for the
year would exceed its 2005
losses of more than 221
million euros.