After once describing Italy's state-controlled Alitalia as in need of an exorcist, Air France-KLM on Monday bought a 25 per cent stake from the airline's new private owners for €322m ($432m).

Disgruntled workers at Rome's Fiumicino airport held a mock funeral for Alitalia, which, however, keeps its name and logo when it merges with Air One, its smaller rival. A few protesters yelled abuse outside the gates of Alitalia's ministry-like headquarters as its board, representing 21 Italian industrialists and financiers, approved the sale of the minority stake.