Air France-KLM plans to hold talks with Alitalia to possibly save the partnerships between the airlines, after the Italian carrier issue notice it does not plan to its European joint venture agreements when they expire in 2017.
"We have 18 months starting from now, to see if we will continue," says Air France-KLM chairman and chief executive Alexandre de Juniac on the sidelines of the IATA Annual General Meeting.
Calling the agreements "mutually beneficial", he adds: "We have to discuss the reasons why they are dissatisfied, what they have in mind."
Alitalia said last month it will not renew its joint venture partnership with Air France-KLM on agreements covering passenger services from Italy to France and the Netherlands. The two airlines also have a cargo agreement that covers marketing on freight-hold carriage on flights operated by Air France-KLM. The Italian carrier argues conditions have changed since the deals were agreed and that these favour Air France-KLM. It has though said it is open to striking a "more equitable" arrangement.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
