The paper said Chief Executive Gabriele Del Torchio had written a letter to UniCredit (>> UniCredit SpA) and Intesa Sanpaolo (>> Intesa Sanpaolo SpA) asking for additional funding.

The request comes on top of the 200 million euros in bank loans already agreed on in October as part of a 500 million euro government-engineered rescue package.

The deal was meant to keep the loss-making carrier in the air as it seeks a new strategic partner that would invest and make it profitable again.

Alitalia could not immediately be reached for comment.

The airline raised 300 million euros in an emergency capital increase last month, which analysts said would keep it flying for the next six months.

The carrier is currently in talks with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways on a possible investment, but analysts said it could take weeks, if not months, before anything concrete materialised from the negotiations.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; Editing by Sophie Hares)

Stocks treated in this article : Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, UniCredit SpA
Valeurs citées dans l'article : Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, UniCredit SpA