A deal between struggling Italian carrier Alitalia and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways should go through this week, Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi told the Lower House on Wednesday. "I think this week, as announced, the work carried out in the past few months will reach a conclusion," he said. Lupi said last week that Etihad would shortly decide whether to buy a stake in Alitalia. Talks are ongoing over whether the Gulf carrier, which is vying to broaden its network in Europe, could buy up to 40% in the troubled Italian airline.
In early February, Etihad and Alitalia issued a joint statement saying they were in the "final phase" of negotiations for a deal that would see the Abu Dhabi carrier buy as much as a 40% stake in its Italian counterpart, the equivalent of a much-needed capital injection of 350 million euros. But the arrangement, as well as other plans to bring Alitalia back to profitability, have been controversial.
