Alitalia-Etihad tie-up hangs in the air
UAE carrier could buy up to 49% of ailing Italian airline
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[ROME] The fate of stricken Italian airline Alitalia is set to be decided this week by the outcome of talks for UAE carrier Etihad to buy up to 49 per cent of the company.
If a deal is struck, Alitalia will be rescued from the threat of bankruptcy, and fast-growing Etihad will take a big step forward into Europe and win some trans-Atlantic routes.
Alitalia's chief executive Gabriele Del Torchio was due to present an outline for an agreement at a meeting with Etihad boss James Hogan in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
