ROME - Italy has spoken with several funders in the United Arab Emirates to discuss investment possibilities for keeping troubled airline Alitalia alive, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Enrico Letta said Tuesday.

 

The Italian airline has been failing for years, and after Air France-KLM decided to not take part in its 300 billion euro capital increase, officials have begun to look for partners outside of Europe.

 

An adviser to Prime Minister Enrico Letta stated Tuesday that he visited the United Arab Emirates to speak with sovereign wealth funds about investment possibilities "in the broadest sense possible." He also stated that the UAE was chosen because it has "the most important sovereign wealth funds in the world."

 

The Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is speculated to be a potential backer for Alitalia, however the company has yet to comment.

 

Meanwhile another potential partner, Russian airline Aeroflot, has stated that it "in no way will it particpate in the company's financing plans."