, subject to approvals by Alitalia shareholders and competition authorities. The partnership would include joint ventures between
Alitalia and both Air France and KLMcovering services between Italy, France and the Netherlands. The companies said they would create "a unique combination of hubs from North to Southern Europe," including Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airports in the existing Air France-KLM network and Alitalia operations at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa airports. The companies expect regulatory approval "before the end of the first quarter of 2009."