Alitalia to partner with Air France-KLM

ROME, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The reborn Italian air line Alitalia is set to sell 25 percent of its shares to Air France-KLM, sources said Tuesday.

The collapsed national airline was resurrected by a private business group, which adopted the airline's name. The plan to find a foreign strategic partner will be formally adopted in board meetings Friday, ANSA news reported.

Informed sources said Air France-KLM will pay $413.5 million for a quarter of the company.

The other contender for Alitalia's partner, Lufthansa, said Tuesday it considered itself in the running to join forces with Alitalia, but has not made a formal offer, ANSA said.