Whilst researching about the Flybe/BACON takeover, I made an interesting discovery regarding the reason why airlines that are in financial trouble are sold for such small sums of money.

Media reports state that it is believed the airline [BA Connect] was sold for the sum of £1. Although not verified, businesses that are losing money are usually sold for a nominal sum in order to indicate a legal transaction has taken place.

The other interesting thing is…

…as well as writing off some £106 million as “lost” in the sale of BA Connect, BA had to pay Flybe a sum of money to take on the company due to Flybe actually taking on a company that will cost them money rather than make profits for the foreseeable future.

So to get back onto the topic of Alitalia, I was wondering if someone did want to take it on, would the Italian government give the new shareholder/owner money to help the initial take-over period because in the same case as Flybe’s takeover of BACON, it will cost them money rather than make profits for the foreseeable future.

Just a thought…?