The government of Lazio, the region around Rome, on Wednesday asked to be let into the business consortium aiming to relaunch bankrupt national airline Alitalia.
Lazioi's centre-left governor, Piero Marrazzo, said the region wanted a part in the rescue because of the fall-out it would have on the region.
Some 4,500 jobs are slated to go in the liquidation of the 'bad company' into which Alitalia' s liabilities have been put after the airline filed for bankruptcy under new rules issued by the centre-right government last week.
Most of the lay-offs will be in Rome and ancillary firms in Lazio.
A Newco called Compagnia Aerea Italiana (CAI), run by the consortium, will team up with Alitalia's private rival Air One and seek a foreign partner.
Air France has already said it may take a minority stake and the consortium is also talking to Lufthansa.
