Even if it does decide to enter into receivership, Alitalia must offer sufficient guarantees or face the risk of being shut down, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Speaking to ANSA on Monday, IATA Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani explained that ''it is obvious that if Alitalia does not offer adequate guarantees regarding both its efficiency and the protection of passengers, it will be inevitable suspended from IATA. And not being part of IATA means not being able to survive, and thus shutting down''.
IATA is the world governing body for air transport.
Bisignani made his remarks after meeting here with the European Union's commissioner for transport, Jacques Barrot.
''We discussed the difficult situation at Alitalia and we both expressed our hope that some decision is made quickly.
''The airline's financial situation has really deteriorated and we are in daily contact with Alitalia to constantly monitor the situation,'' Bisignani said.
Alitalia said last week that it has sufficient cash on hand to continue to operate in the short term, perhaps to the summer. Because of strict EU regulations, Alitalia can receive no further state aid or loans unless it strikes a strategic alliance with another carrier, like Air France-KLM, which could guarantee the credit.
A takeover offer by Air France-KLM was rejected by the airline's unions after it was initially approved by the Alitalia board and the Treasury, which has placed its 49.9% controlling stake in the carrier up for sale.
Alitalia unions rejected the offer because of 2,200 planned layoffs and the proposed downsizing of the airline's activities in the air and on the ground.
Attempts to reopen negotiations with Air France-KLM have temporarily been put on hold until after Italy's elections.
Air France-KLM has made it clear from the start that its offer, the only one advanced so far, will only be valid if it has the approval of both the airline's unions and the Italian government.
A new Italian government is expected to be formed some time next month.
Speaking last week, outgoing Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi warned that Alitalia's only alternative to an accord with Air France-KLM was bankruptcy.
''We must face the facts: Air France-KLM is ready to resume talks and the Alitalia board has verified that the airline is heading towards a critical financial crisis. Thus the time has come to make a decision because we are dealing with weeks and not months to avoid bankruptcy,'' Bianchi said.
Alitalia could qualify for additional aid in the event it goes into receivership under the so-called Marzano Law, which helps troubled enterprises to restructure and return to profit.
However, while this has worked for failed food giants Parmalat and Cirio, which had strong industrial bases but were strapped with massive financial debts, many observers do not believe it will work with Alitalia, which has problems that are both structural and financial.
Added to this, some observers believe that the nature of the air transport sector will make it very difficult for Alitalia to restructure and become competitive.
If restructuring is not possible, Alitalia would be declared bankrupt and its assets, including planes, routes and slots, sold to help pay off the airline's debts.
Alitalia has debts in the neighborhood of 1.5 billion euros and continues to lose around a million euros a day.
