On January 19, Italian airline Alitalia SpA called a shareholders' meeting to name a new board on February 22.

The company's board dissolved after the resignation by the chief executive of Air France-KLM, Jean-Cyril Spinetta, from Alitalia's board on January 17, because of the Italian government's tender to privatize the airline.

Another board member resigned two days earlier, leaving the board with just two members after other defections last year.

The second call for the shareholder meeting is for February 28, Alitalia said in a statement.

The announcement, given just before the opening of trading on the Milan stock exchange, had little impact on Alitalia's shares, which were up 0.38 percent at US$1.38 in early trading.

The government, which controls a 49.9 percent share of Alitalia, announced last month conditions for the sale of at least a 30.1 percent share to a buyer with a turnaround plan.

Air France-KLM has been in talks with Alitalia.