Air France withdraws Alitalia bid
From Times Wire Services
Air France-KLM formally withdrew its bid for Alitalia, sharply reducing the chances that Europe’s biggest airline can be persuaded to buy the Italian flag carrier.
The Franco-Dutch carrier said in a brief statement that Alitalia had asked it to clarify its position after it quit talks with unions over conditions for the takeover that had already been agreed to in principle with management.
It was not immediately clear whether Air France-KLM would consider making a fresh bid.
The conditions Air France-KLM had set included getting approval of unions and of a new Italian government.
