MILAN (AFP) — Air France-KLM could invest 6.5 billion euros (9.4 billion dollars) in Alitalia under a takeover plan which would see up to 2,000 jobs cut at the struggling Italian flag-carrier, a report said Friday.
The Ansa news agency, without citing sources, said between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs could be shed at the firm, which currently employs more than 11,250 people.
The report said Alitalia's services and maintenance division, called Alitalia Sevizi -- with some 8,300 employees and 49 percent controlled by the airline -- would be largely left alone.
Subsequently, Alitalia's stake in the service unit would be cut to 30 percent, it added.
If Air France-KLM were successful in its bid for Alitalia, it would spend one billion euros shortly after the acquisition and a total of 6.5 billion euros over time, it said.
The Franco-Dutch company would also concentrate Alitalia's operations at Rome's Fiumicino airport, with Milan's Malpensa relegated to a secondary role serving some of the main international routes.
An Air France-KLM spokesman in Paris declined to comment on the report.
Earlier Friday, the Corriere della Sera said Alitalia chairman Maurizio Prato was ready to quit if Air France-KLM was not chosen as the partner to get the ailing Italian airline back on its feet.
Alitalia said Thursday it had postponed until next Tuesday its decision on which buyer it prefers, reportedly because the government is split over whether to recommend AP Holding, which operates the small independent airline Air One, or Air France-KLM.
The Italian government owns 49.9 percent of Alitalia and is seeking to sell a controlling stake to a partner that can relaunch the airline.
Alitalia has to examine offers from Air France, AP Holding and a consortium organised by Rome lawyer Antonio Baldassarre.
Alitalia currently loses about 1.0 million euros (1.5 million dollars) a day owing to its high operating costs and fierce competition from budget rivals.
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