Report: Alitalia rescue deadline extended

ROME, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Alitalia officials say five of nine unions have approved a plan to rescue the bankrupt airline and merge it with Italy's largest private carrier, Air One.

A government deadline to accept or reject the plan expired Friday with negotiating parties deciding to allow for further consultation with several pilot unions that oppose the plan, ANSA, the Italian news agency, reported Saturday.

Five unions, including four of Italy's leading trade unions, approved the plan to let Compagnia Aerea Italiana -- a government-sponsored consortium of Italian investors -- buy Alitalia's flight operations.

CAI proposes to merge Alitalia with Air One which then would form an alliance with a major airline such as Air France or Germany's Lufthansa, ANSA reported.