(Bloomberg) -- Delta Air Lines Inc. suggested a partnership with rival Alitalia bidder EasyJet Plc that would involve a less costly contract with the bankrupt airline's staff, while retaining operational centers at Italy's Fiumicino and Malpensa airports, Corriere della Sera reported.
The discussions are complex and in a delicate phase, Corriere said, citing four people working on the matter being handled by Italy's Ferrovie dello Stato, the national railroad operator. Both Delta and U.K.-based low-cost carrier EasyJet submitted separate bids in November as the government seeks a buyer for the bankrupt national airline.
Ferrovie executives met in Milan Saturday to prepare for a possible board meeting on Wednesday, at which a partner or partners could be announced, the newspaper said.
Ferrovie has been given the task of conducting the negotiations. The government may favor a deal with Delta because it would be easier to implement and wouldn't require job cuts, La Stampa reported in early January, citing an official.
To contact the reporter on this story: John Follain in Rome at jfollain2@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Steve Geimann at sgeimann@bloomberg.net, ;Matthew G. Miller at mmiller144@bloomberg.net, Keith Campbell
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