Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino) has hired boutique investment bank, Leonardo, to help the debt-ridden carrier find ways of raising more than EUR400million (USD527million) to keep it afloat, Reuters has reported. In its statement, Alitalia said it had hired the bankers to "assist the company in its relationships with the banks." The move comes after Alitalia earlier this year said it would need EUR300 million to keep running but did expect to break even by 2015. Among its cost cutting measures have been across the board salary cuts for both employees and board members ahead of the drawing up of a new strategic plan. The airline has also pushed back the approval of its mid-year financial statement to the end of September, due to be approved by the board, pending a tax dispute. No further news regarding purported talks with Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) has been disclosed.