Delta has emerged among the latest round of bidders for Alitalia, and low-cost carrier EasyJet also remains interested in the Italian carrier, according to Bloomberg. Italian state-owned railroad company Ferrovie dello Stato has made an offer, as well.
Alitalia ownership could divide among the three, Delta assisting with long-haul service and EasyJet working with its short-haul operations, Bloomberg reported. Delta is a joint-venture partner of Alitalia—for now, at least—and has invested in several of its partners around the globe. A statement from Delta confirmed only that "we continue to explore ways to work with Alitalia and maintain our partnership in the future." EasyJet confirmed it has "submitted a revised expression of interest for a restructured Alitalia."
Alitalia began bankruptcy proceedings last year and is operating under an Italian government bridge loan as it weighs investor options. Lufthansa had expressed interest in the past, but chairman and CEO Carsten Spohr said this week on the carrier's earnings call that Lufthansa "will not be interested to be co-investors with the government in an airline."