Easyjet, Air France-Klm, Delta Airlines and the Cerberus investment fund. These are the names that make up the new consortium of four ready to challenge Lufthansa to take over Alitalia, which yesterday was awarded the record for the most punctual airline in the world, with 91,89% of flights landed on time.
The four giants were already in the running, each on their own. Then the twist: an alliance that could upset the cards on the table.
The sale of Alitalia is therefore back in the spotlight, after weeks of stalemate. The four companies would have asked the 3 commissioners Luigi Gubitosi, Enrico Laghi and Stefano Paleari a meeting which, according to rumors, should be held on Thursday 22 February. The aim is to arrive at an exclusive negotiation, thus eliminating the Germans of Lufthansa.
Despite this, it still appears unlikely that the sale of the former flag carrier will take place in the short term and in all likelihood the dossier will pass into the hands of the new government (if there is one) which will take care of it after the March 4 elections. This is also confirmed by the words spoken this morning by the Minister of Economic Development, Carlo Calenda at the end of the table on the automotive sector: "The commissioners confirmed to me that they do not believe they can conclude before March 4, as the suitors want to wait for the elections". “But let's go on working” added Calenda on the consortium of four Air France-Delta-Easyjet-Cerberus he replied: “I won't comment on the consortiums”.
According to the latest rumors, the agreement would assign a different role to each of the companies in the consortium and it would be based on different reasons: Easyjet would act as a vehicle for Alitalia flights, transporting its passengers to the Fiumicino hub and also taking care of the long-haul business. Air France would be able to overtake its main competitors (Lufthansa and British Airways) and conquer the supremacy of the European skies. Delta could finally enter the Italian market through the intercontinental routes currently in the hands of Alitalia and Cerberus, which has been looking for new partners in the airline sector for a long time, would find itself joined by three real giants.
