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November 07, 2019 "There must be a new company in Alitalia because there is our interest in investing" and there must be some "elements of restructuring. For us it is a requirement". This was stated by the CEO of Lufthansa Group, Carsten Spohr, during a call conference with the international press from Frankfurt. "We believe that the overlap of the Alitalia market makes it more interesting to have commercial agreements," he added. The Lufthansa expertise will allow "a restructuring that keeps out of the elements. People with current ownership must be put out before we can consider ourselves committed. This has not changed" he concluded.

The Italian Ministry of Economic Development has extended to November 21 the date for the submission of binding offers, after the October 15 deadline passed without an agreement. But in this regard the CEO of Lufthansa reiterated: "" Being honest, I do not think it is realistic on November 21st. Our position has not changed. We have already said several times that we are not interested in entering the current Alitalia but it makes sense for us a new Alitalia restructured, for the importance of the Italian market. Quality is more important than speed, who knows better than us Germans and you Italians, "Spohr continued, who declined to comment on other possible dates and added:" Of course it is more important for Alitalia to find a good business partner at the moment " .

On Delta Spohr he argued that "developing trade relations may be worthwhile" and reiterated that "for us the Italian market is the most important after the US but Alitalia needs a partner because it cannot operate alone". "Lufthansa it serves all the markets that Alitalia also needs, only the North Atlantic route is not in focus, so it could develop together commercial ideas "he continued.

The Italian Ministry of Economic Development has extended to November 21 the date for the submission of binding offers, after the October 15 deadline passed without an agreement.