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MILAN (AP) — Italy's economic development minister says that failing airline Alitalia will receive a government bridge loan to keep it operational while a new owner is sought.
Carlo Calenda told Radio 24 on Wednesday that a loan of 300 million to 400 million euros ($326 million-$435 million) would keep the airline flying for six months under receivership.
Asked if German airline Lufthansa was interested in buying the company, Calenda gave a quick "I hope," then added more cautiously, "It would be interesting to explore."
Italy's flagship airline is on the verge of bankruptcy after workers rejected a government-brokered deal that would have unlocked 2 billion euros in investments from its managing shareholder, Etihad, and a consortium of Italian businesses, led by Italian banks UniCredit and Intesa SanPaolo, that holds a 51-percent share.
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