Italy extends Alitalia bridge loan

Italy Friday extended a bridge loan for airline Alitalia, which is in special administration as state commissioners seek to sell, overhaul or liquidate the carrier. Italy’s cabinet said in a statement it had passed an emergency decree to add a further E300m to the loan of 600 million euros it made to the ailing company in May. It also extended the deadline for the repayment of the loan, which was due in November this year, to Sept. 30, 2018. The cabined headed by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni also extended the deadline for prospective buyers to present offers to acquire the national carrier to April 30, 2018, from the previous deadline of Oct. 16 this year.<br/>