"Six of Europe's leading airlines have written to the European Commission's transport tsar to oppose the Italian government's recent financial bailout of Alitalia, the stricken Italian airline.

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Finnair, SAS, Iberia and Tap Portugal have written a letter to Antonio Tajani, the European transport commissioner, arguing that financial aid from the Italian government to Alitalia contravenes EU competition and state aid rules.

Last month Alitalia received an emergency €300m (£240m) government loan that was converted to an asset on its books. "

Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...8/cnair108.xml