Italy's government has reported shared that the only hypothesis for an Alitalia tie-up currently on the table is a long-standing prospect of a deal with French-Dutch airline Air France KLM. As per the information available, Italian transport minister Alessandro Bianchi said the government is ready to strengthen the existing partnership between Alitalia and Air France-KLM. (7/19/2006)

According to Reuters, Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi said, It is the only concrete hypothesis on the table, made a long time ago, but upon which there certainly is work that needs to be done.

Asked about other alternatives, Bianchi said: As far as I know, there are not other solutions at present. Bianchi denied press reports of a possible alliance with Russian airline Aeroflot-Russian Airlines.

Air France-KLM has a two percent stake in Alitalia and the parties have commercial agreements.

Economy minister Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa reportedly said in a newspaper interview that Alitalia cannot continue on its own and has to seek tie-ups. The government has a 49.9 percent stake in the airline.