(adds further detail, Tronchetti comments)
MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Pirelli & C SpA chairman Marco Tronchetti
Provera said the company is ready to invest "a few million euros" in an Italian
consortium to take over Alitalia SpA or in Milan's Malpensa airport.
Incoming Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is trying to form a consortium of
Italian investors plus, reportedly, Russia's Aeroflot airline and Italy's Air
One, to take over the airline.
"For Alitalia, we are ready to make a contribution, clearly a few million
euros if there is a clear and transparent plan for Malpensa, that protects the
economic interests of the country and also of Pirelli," he said.
Malpensa's activities have been hit by Alitalia's end to hub activities at
the airport, and northern Italian businessmen, such as Tronchetti, have been
urged to safeguard its future for the region's economy.
In further comments, Tronchetti said his group spends a lot of money on
intercontinental flights for its staff.
"If Malpensa was closed, it would cost millions of euros. Therefore in the
face of this cost and of a lower presence of operators and insignificant plans
for Malpensa, we have made ourselves available and given our name," he said in
comments to reporters.
Yesterday, SEA, the company which operates Malpensa, said it has already
replaced for this year more than half of the 800 weekly flights withdrawn by
Alitalia.
At start of 2009, Deutsche Lufthansa AG will base six planes at Malpensa to
be operated by its Air Dolimiti regional unit.
SEA said the government has to negotiate flying rights with overseas
countries before other airlines can operate international flights from Malpensa,
in place of Alitalia.
nigel.tutt@thomsonreuters.com
nt/slj/nt/vlb
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