ROME, Sept 15: Last-ditch talks to save Italian airline Alitalia took place on Sunday, with prospective buyers, unions and the government struggling to agree on how to salvage the country’s flag carrier.

Unions said the different parties held a “final meeting” on Sunday evening that were part of a marathon negotiation to reach a deal on Alitalia’s future.

Under the latest rescue plan, the Italian consortium CAI, which has put a one billion euro ($1.4 billion) offer for the troubled airline on the table, would ensure passenger flights keep running.

Alitalia would also merge with Air One, the country’s second largest airline, and its 1.2 billion euro debt would be absorbed by a second company, which would then be liquidated.

Maintenance and freight activity would also be cancelled.

—AFP