Italy would welcome Lufthansa taking stake in Alitalia - government source

By Reuters • Updated: 09/12/2019

FILE PHOTO: Deutsche Lufthansa sign is seen in front of the airport terminal at Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt, July 21, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany - Copyright MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY(Reuters)

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ROME (Reuters) – The Italian government would welcome German carrier Lufthansa <LHAG.DE> taking a stake in Alitalia, a government source said on Thursday.

Two other sources close to the matter said earlier that Lufthansa has expressed a willingness to join the rescue of the Italian loss-making carrier.

Alitalia received a commitment on Tuesday from Italian toll-road operator Atlantia <ATL.MI> and state railways Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) to each take a stake provided a number of conditions were met.

Italy on Thursday granted the troubled airline a new bridge loan of 350 million euros for six months.

(Stefano Bernabei, editing by Gavin Jones)

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