Etihad does not want to make hasty decisions about Alitalia. This was stated by James Hogan, number one of the Abu Dhabi airline, on the sidelines of an event organized with Air Berlin, a carrier in which he owns 29%. Meanwhile, it began in Fiumicino the Alitalia shareholders' meeting. On the agenda, the renewal of the board of directors and the modification of the Articles of Association to reduce the number of directors. Sthe is moving towards a reconfirmation at the top of Roberto Colaninno and Gabriele Del Torchio in the roles of president and managing director.
“We are still in a preliminary phase of the analysis on Alitalia. We are working on the process – he said Hogan –. The important thing in any transaction is to do due diligence and be sure, if you are going to invest, that there is a clear plan to return to profitability. We will not make any hasty decisions."
Furthermore, according to Hogan, “there are no plans related to an announcement at the end of January” and there is no interest from Etihad for Fiumicino airport.
After acquiring a 29% stake in Air Berlin, Germany's second largest airline after Lufthansa, in 2011, Etihad has expanded its investment reach worldwide, with stakes in Air Serbia, Aer Lingus, Darwin Airlines, Virgin Australia , Jet Airways and Air Seychelles.
Hogan confirmed that this strategy will continue in the future: "An airline alone cannot have global capabilities".
