Alitalia-Etihad deal 'close' after Renzi meets Hogan

Announcement expected 'in coming hours'

(ANSA) - Rome, April 11 - A deal giving Etihad Airlines a big stake in troubled Italian flag carrier Alitalia is "close", sources said after Italian Premier Matteo Renzi met the CEO of the Abu Dhabi-based airline in Rome. "They're getting down to the nitty-gritty, and there may be an announcement in the coming hours," sources at the premier's office said after Renzi's talks with James Hogan. The major stumbling block, they said, is the number of redundancies the deal would entail.

Earlier this week Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi said Etihad Airlines had finished its "due diligence" in examining Alitalia's accounts. Etihad is mulling a 40% stake in the cash-strapped Italian carrier, which would inject about 300 million euros in capital in Alitalia.