MILAN (AFP) - Alitalia said it expected its full-year net loss to widen from last year's 519.7 million euros (671 million dollars) due to 289 million euros in restructuring charges booked this year to relaunch the ailing airline.
The company stood by an earlier forecast for a loss before taxes and extraordinary items to be in line with the 515.5 million loss posted in 2003.
In third-quarter results released Thursday, the airline's loss before taxes and extraordinary items shrank to 28.8 million from 47.4 million in the same quarter last year.
Sales fell to 1.118 billion euros from 1.158 billion euros a year earlier while the operating loss narrowed to 13.6 million euros from 21.9 million.
End-September, net debt stood at 1.712 billion euros.
The airline said its board had decided to call an extraordinary general meeting to be held on December 15 or December 21 to decide on the previously announced capital increase of up to 1.2 billion euros.
11/11/2004 - 19:34 GMT - AFP