UK airline easyJet has withdrawn its interest in acquiring Alitalia.
Last month, easyJet and Delta Air Lines confirmed they were in talks with Italy’s state railway company Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) about forming a consortium to explore options for the future operations of the Italian carrier.
Alitalia entered administration in 2017 after a series of restructurings and investments over the past decade failed to revive the airline.
But the UK budget carrier announced yesterday that it had withdrawn its interest in the ailing Italian flag carrier .
In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, the easyJet said: “Following discussions with Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Delta Air Lines about forming a consortium to explore options for the future operations of Alitalia, easyJet has taken the decision to withdraw from the process.
“EasyJet remains committed to Italy, as a key market for the company, where it currently carries 18.5 million passengers every year and employs 1400 pilots and crew, all on local contracts.
“We continue to invest in the three bases in Milan, Naples, Venice, as we have done by basing additional aircraft in Venice and Naples last summer.”
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