Poste Italiane could join a consortium to help rescue ailing Alitalia as part of its plans toexpand its logistics business, an Italian newspaper reported yesterday. The Italian postal operator
has meanwhile gained EU approval for €1.1 billion worth of public subsidies.The daily business newspaper Finanza & Mercati wrote that Poste Italiane chiefs wereinterested in Alitalia’s cargo business and its logistics base at Milan-Malpensa airport. FrancescoPizzo, head of the company’s small cargo airline Mistral, saw an opportunity to grow the business,it wrote. In addition, such a deal would have the advantage of retaining part of Alitalia within astate-owned group, it added.
Advisers to incoming Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi are trying to form an Italian-ownedconsortium to rescue Alitalia following the failure of the takeover bid from Air France/KLM. Thereare also reports Lufthansa might be interested in buying into the airline.
Poste Italiane recently linked up with Italian Railways to form a logistics joint venture toexpand its freight transportation activities and broaden its existing parcels and express business.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has announced that it has endorsed the €1.1 billion paidto Poste Italiane between 2006 and 2008 to finance its universal postal service.
The state support is in line with EU rules on public service compensation because it does notover-compensate ‘Poste Italiane’ for providing these services, and so does not allow forcross-subsidies for other activities, the EU executive said.
Competition commissioner Neelie Kroes commented: “I am satisfied that the compensation for ‘Poste Italiane’ is sufficient to allow it to fulfil its public service obligations without undulydistorting competition.”
