Italy lays out conditions for ITA Airways privatisation - draft decree

ROME - An airline company must end up with a majority stake in ITA Airways after the privatisation process of the state-owned carrier is concluded, an Italian government decree seen by Reuters said.

In the meantime, the Treasury should have a say on the new shareholders, the decree stipulated.

Sources had previously told Reuters the decree passed on Wednesday was aimed at facilitating the full privatisation of ITA, which was created last year from the ashes of the failed Alitalia, starting with the sale of an initial minority stake.

Germany's Lufthansa is the frontrunner to buy into ITA, sources have said.