ITA Airways seeks an ally to put 'money on the table'

Alitalia’s successor ITA Airways is looking for a partner ready to invest in the Italian carrier, Chairman Alfredo Altavilla said on Wednesday, adding that the airline could seal an alliance by June. Speaking at a parliamentary hearing, Altavilla said that the state-owned carrier had already started informal talks with some potential partners, both in Europe and overseas, but did not name any suitors. “We don’t need code sharing or a commercial joint venture. If you put money on the table, you play; if you don’t put money on the table, you can avoid asking for access to the data room,” he said. “We are looking for an equity partnership.” Two sources close to ITA Airways told Reuters that the Italian carrier has been in contact with Germany’s Lufthansa, British Airways and United States-based Delta, adding that formal talks could start by the end of March. A Lufthansa spokesman reiterated that the German carrier was open to the possibility of a partnership with ITA. A Delta representative was not available for comment and British Airways declined to comment. ITA Airways started flying on Oct. 15 with nearly 2,300 employees and a fleet less than half the size of that operated by Alitalia.<br/>