Italy's outgoing government said Thursday it will take an «active role» in trying to coax Air France-KLM and Alitalia's unions back to the negotiating table and revive the sale of Italy's failing national carrier, according to AP. After holding meetings with unions, the government said more talks would take place next week. It reiterated in a statement that a sale to Air France-KLM is the «only concrete solution» to Alitalia's crisis. Both unions and Air France-KLM have left the door open for more talks, but with national elections looming Sunday and Monday it is unlikely any decisive action would be taken until after a new government is in place. Air France-KLM broke off talks on its takeover offer last week citing demands by unions. The offer, which values Alitalia at ¤139 million ($216 million), is conditional on approval by Alitalia's strike-prone unions. Labor leaders have opposed plans to lay off more than 2,000 Alitalia employees, close the cargo unit and downgrade Milan's Malpensa airport from a hub. Analysts say that Alitalia, which has been losing ¤1 million (US$1.6 million) a day and selling assets to stay afloat, could only keep operating until June on its own resources.
