Alitalia has disappeared.
On its ashes is to be born ITA, which should begin its flights next month.
But the former Italian national company continues to make headlines.
At the end of an investigation opened in 2018, the European Union estimates that two loans totaling 900 million euros granted by the transalpine state to Alitalia in 2017 were illegal: they granted to the company, according to Brussels. ,
“An unfair advantage over its competitors, in violation of European Union state aid rules”.
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The fragile takeoff of airlines in Europe
In fact, the Italian state had come to the aid of Alitalia, which could no longer contract a bank loan given its deteriorated financial situation.
Even if it will surely take over part of Alitalia's assets, it is not ITA that will have to repay these loans (600 million in May 2017 then 300 million in October 2017).
Indeed, ITA is
"not the economic successor"
and
"therefore is not required to repay the illegal state aid received",
specifies the European Commission.
In fact, it is Alitalia that will have to reimburse these sums.
"Italy must now recover them from Alitalia in order to re-establish a level playing field within the European aviation industry,"
said European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager in a press release.
To honor its debt, Alitalia will be able to count on the funds it will collect from the sale of its ground services and its maintenance activity.
As requested by Brussels, these disposals will be made through public calls for tenders.
ITA could respond to it just like other investors.
Alitalia is also counting on the income generated by the sale of its brand.
