Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino) could partner a South East Asian carrier should Air France (AF, Paris CDG) & KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol) not participate in a EUR300million (USD402million) capital injection. Quoted by Reuters, Italian Transport Minister, Maurizio Lupi, said: "I hope Air France will subscribe ... if they don't, their stake will fall to around 7 percent and then we can look for a partner in South East Asia." Referencing purported Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International), Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo) and Hainan Airlines (HU, Haikou) talks, Mr Lupi said: "I don't think so, I've read about (Russia's) Aeroflot and Air China (sic)." Meanwhile, Alitalia's board is due to convene on Wednesday in what the Italian media speculates, could be to discuss the contentious issue of proposed hefty layoffs. The Franco-Dutch airline has reiterated in the past that its participation in the capital drive hinges upon "stringent" reforms being put in place at the cash strapped Italian national carrier.