According to press reports the chairman of Alitalia has raised fresh doubts over whether the carrier can survive without a new buyer.
Maurizio Prato has claimed the firm is in a “comatose” state and can not repay the more than 1bn euros it currently owes over the next three years.

Mr Prato has indicated that the firm is set to lose 400m euros this year alone.

An auction for the Italian government’s 49.9% stake in Alitalia collapsed in July and the search for a new suitor continues.

The company has suffered huge losses in the last few years and has been dogged by industrial action as well as strong competition from low-cost airlines.
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