Alitalia said its board will consider seeking a "substantial" capital increase to revive the ailing airline that has failed to find a buyer, with one union source pinning the amount at EUR1.5 billion.

Alitalia said in a statement on August 29 that the exact amount it would ask for had yet to be decided. Banks rather than its biggest shareholder - Italy's Treasury - are expected to subscribe to the offer, the source said.