Alitalia had debts of $3.3 billion at the end of Feb: government | Reuters

MILAN Loss-making airline Alitalia, which asked to be put under special administration on Tuesday, had debts of around 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) as of Feb. 28, Italy’s government said.

In a document marking the opening of the special administration process and the appointment of three commissioners that will run the airline from now on, the government said on Saturday Alitalia had current liabilities of around 2.3 billion euros and assets worth 921 million.

Alitalia, 49 percent owned by Etihad Airways, has filed to be put under special administration for the second time in less than a decade after workers rejected its latest rescue plan, starting a process that will lead to the carrier being overhauled, sold off or wound up.

($1 = 0.9096 euros)

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak and Alberto Sisto; editing by Alexander Smith)