Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) has joined easyJet (EZJ.L) in expressing interest in struggling Italian carrier Alitalia, the airlines said on Tuesday.
EasyJet said it has submitted a revised expression of interest for a restructured Alitalia as part of a consortium, declining to provide further details.
Lufthansa then said it has submitted a document setting out its ideas for a “new” Alitalia. “We can imagine further talks being held on this basis,” a spokesman said.
Alitalia said it had received three bids.
Germany-based Lufthansa had previously said it would only be interested in a restructured Alitalia.
Alitalia entered insolvency proceedings last year and the Italian government has since been seeking new investors. The sale process has been delayed as a result of last month’s elections.
Bloomberg News, citing a source, reported that easyJet (EZJ.L) is teaming up with private equity firm Cerberus and Air France-KLM for its bid for Alitalia, but Air France-KLM said it had no interest in bidding.
“Air France-KLM denies any interest to do a bid on Alitalia,” a spokeswoman for the Franco-Dutch group said by email when asked about the report.
Source: Reuters.com