Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino) and tentative partner, Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International), have offered concessions to the European Commission in a bid to have their multi-billion Euro investment approved. EC sources who spoke to Reuters newswire on condition of anonymity said that the two have offered to relinquish slots on Alitalia's Rome Fiumicino to Belgrade route amongst other proposals.

In August Alitalia agreed to sell Etihad a 49% stake in its shareholding in return for a EUR1.76 billion (USD2.4 billion) investment. Though the parties have agreed, the deal still requires European Commission anti-trust approval before it can be finalized.

Brussels is expected to rule on the deal by November 17.