Ryanair targeting long haul with Alitalia fleet bid

Ryanair will bid to operate 90 planes under the Alitalia brand and use existing staff as part of the Italian airline’s restructuring, chief executive Michael O’Leary said yesterday.

Ryanair has until October 2 to make a binding bid for all or part of the Italian carrier, which has been put under special administration for the second time in less than a decade.

“We will be submitting an offer for the 90 jet aircraft, with their pilots, cabin crew, routes etc,” Mr O’Leary told journalists at a press briefing in London.