ROME: Concern was mounting in Italy on Monday over the fate of the troubled national airline Alitalia, with just 15 days until the deadline for the state railway company to submit a concrete takeover offer.
Unions warned this weekend that the carrier risked being “euthanized,” spooking Italy’s populist coalition government, which can ill afford a fresh Alitalia disaster as it campaigns for May’s European elections.
Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) submitted an offer to buy Alitalia at the end of October, but does not want to hold any more than 30 percent in the airline.
FS had been discussing a potential partnership with both Atlanta-based Delta and EasyJet, Britain’s biggest low-cost airline, but the latter said last month that it was pulling out of the negotiations.
In addition to FS’s 30 percent, Delta is interested in taking 15 percent, and the Italian Treasury another 15 percent, according to Italian media reports.
In that case, one or more partners would still need to be found for the remaining 40 percent. The binding offer must be submitted by April 30.
According to media reports, Delta is in contact with the Chinese company China Eastern, and has also approached Italian infrastructure group Atlantia.
However, any deal with Atlantia would be toxic for the government, which has repeatedly lambasted the company.
Atlantia’s majority-owned subsidiary Autostrade came under fire last summer after a large bridge in Genoa collapsed, killing more than 40 people.
Should the FS bid fail, German airline Lufthansa has expressed interest in Alitalia, but has ruled out any deal that involved the Italian state and would likely cut thousands of jobs.
Three unions for Alitalia pilot and cabin crews — ANPAC, ANPAV and ANP — warned in a statement Saturday that the situation risked deteriorating further with a June 30 deadline for the repayment of a €900 million ($1 billion) state loan.
The unions said they would not sit back and watch the “state euthanasia, and are ready to mobilize and open direct talks with possible industrial and financial partners who would guarantee a credible launch of the new Alitalia.”
The airline, which employs more than 11,000 people, has struggled to compete with low-cost European rivals and was placed in administration in 2017.
Pressure mounts on Italy to save ailing Alitalia
Pressure mounts on Italy to save ailing Alitalia
- Unions warned this weekend that the national carrier risked being ‘euthanized’
- Alitalia, which employs more than 11,000 people, has struggled to compete with low-cost European rivals
IsDB announces $2.41bn in new financing for strategic development sectors
JEDDAH: The Islamic Development Bank has approved $2.41 billion in new financing for a series of transformative projects during its 364th Executive Board meeting, chaired by IsDB President Mohammed Al-Jasser.
The approvals underscore the bank’s ongoing commitment to regional cooperation, economic development, and climate- and environment-friendly investments that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals across its member countries.
The new financing includes an additional $40 million for the Central Asia–South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000) in Tajikistan, aimed at boosting regional energy trade, improving electricity access and reliability, and mitigating climate change through the export of clean and renewable energy.
The bank also approved €116 million ($135 million) to upgrade Senegal’s Dakar Expressway Project.
The initiative is designed to improve health, education, and economic services for local populations, reduce traffic congestion and peak travel times, and enhance road safety measures to halve traffic-related deaths and injuries, with a particular focus on women and young pedestrians.
A $1.307 billion allocation was approved for Kazakhstan’s Economic and Industrial Zones Project to foster sustainable industrial development.
The initiative is expected to promote economic diversification, attract investment, create jobs, and boost global competitiveness through infrastructure upgrades and operational efficiency in special economic zones, industrial zones, and specialized industrial zones.
Bahrain will receive $330.07 million to expand its industrial capacity and strengthen economic competitiveness. The funding will support the development of modern industrial land with resilient infrastructure, advanced export-oriented manufacturing, effective internal connectivity, and reclaimed land facilities.
The project aims to stimulate private investment, generate employment, and reinforce Bahrain’s position as a regional industrial and logistics hub.
The IsDB approved $160 million to enhance utilities, water, and urban development sectors in Jordan.
The financing will secure future drinking water supply for Aqaba, Amman, and northern regions, support climate adaptation and mitigation, foster economic growth, and promote private sector participation in sustainable, long-term water solutions to alleviate severe water stress.
Azerbaijan was granted $436.67 million to improve agricultural productivity by reducing irrigation water losses and supporting sustainable rural development, in line with Azerbaijan’s 2030 vision.
The project will also promote green growth, strengthen climate resilience, and ensure long-term food security.
The approved projects reflect the IsDB’s strategic focus on fostering sustainable and inclusive growth across member countries by addressing critical infrastructure, energy, water, transport, and industrial development challenges.
These initiatives are expected to deliver lasting impact and contribute effectively to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
