Alitalia to Banks: Can we borrow till Etihad posts bail?

Alitalia is about to finalize loans of around $270 million with banks that were pledged last year as part of a plan to keep the Italian flag carrier according to Reuters. However the carrier is coming under increasing pressure on its Italian turf from lost cost carriers RyanAir and EasyJet. Meanwhile, LH has called on the European Commission to block any alliance and buy-in between Alitalia and Etihad Airways. Etihad, which already has alliances with Aer Lingus, Airberlin and Air Serbia in Europe, is reportedly close to a deal with Alitalia according to Reuters. Lufthansa has lobbied against state-owned Gulf airlineshttp://startsavin-a.akamaihd.net/ite...rrow-10x10.png (especially Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways) from expanding in Europe because of their unfair state aid ($$$$$$$$$).