Nearly two months in, the Air France–KLM takeover of Alitalia is progressing “in line” with the business plan the Franco-Dutch carrier had outlined, with a smaller crew and a more regional focus. Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Air France Chairman, has been reported by local media saying that he was “pleased” to find that the Italian carrier’s accounting books were in better shape than earlier expected.

Additionally he said that the takeover process by the airline and the CAI consortium was progressing as planned. Air France–KLM completed its purchase of a 25% stake in the failing Alitalia on the 25th of March, and since then has been moving the airline into a regional carrier model with a much smaller crew. At the same time, the Franco–Dutch carrier is understood to be preparing a tentative bid for Czech Airlines, after the government paved the way for it to lodge a formal bid by ruling out rival suitor Aeroflot.