Lufthansa still interested in restructured Alitalia

Lufthansa remains interested in a restructured Alitalia and its position has not changed after Italy said this week it wanted a majority stake in the airline under government control. Lufthansa has repeatedly said that the Italian market is important for it but that loss-making Alitalia must first be restructured before it would invest. A spokesman said Lufthansa had already submitted a document to this effect to the government. “We can imagine further talks on this basis,” he said Friday. Italy’s new transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, said earlier this week there was a need for 51% of Alitalia to be kept in Italian hands.<br/>