Air France-KLM declines to comment on it making only a partial offer for Alitalia SpA service activities in the privatisation bid it is planning, said sources close to Air France here in Italy.

On Friday, Filt-Cgil secretary-general Fabrizio Solari said Air France wants to buy only a small part of Alitalia's 49 pct affiliate AZ Servizi, such as some maintenance and handling activities.

The Air France sources said the company is still preparing its offer, which it plans to make by a March 14 deadline.

Air France is in exclusive talks with Alitalia to prepare its bid for the Italian state's 49.9 pct in Alitalia.

The Air France source said it will be 'difficult' for Air France chairman Jean Cyril Spinetta to visit Italy and present his Alitalia business plan to trade unions as reports had suggested.

As reported, Air France intends to obtain Alitalia board backing for its offer before filing it with the Italian treasury, he said.

In further weekend reports on the bid details, Solari was cited saying more than 6,000 of AZ Servizi's workers will remain with Italian state holding Fintecna, which owns the other 51 pct of AZ Servizi.

Overall, this plan would mean that out of Alitalia's 18,700 workforce, including AZ Servizi, about 12,000 would be taken on by Air France, he said.

Air France wants to keep 800 line maintenance staff, but not 600 heavy maintenance workers in Naples nor Alitalia Maintenance Systems, a joint venture with Deutsche Lufthansa AG, employing 350, he said.

In addition, Solari said Air France plans outsourcing of AZ Servizi's administration, computer and call centre activities involving 1,500-2,000 staff.