Meridiana Meeting Amid Qatar Airways Talk

Senior executives of Italy's Meridiana Fly are meeting the development minister in Rome to discuss the future of the ailing regional airline, amid speculation Qatar Airways could come to the rescue.

Meridiana Fly, which offers flights to and from Sardinia and other destinations in Italy and abroad, is under a government-sponsored restructuring plan to help turn it round.

The group, which is owned by the Aga Khan, put most of its employees under a temporary layoff scheme last April.

"Talks are going on with Qatar Airways to let the carrier enter into (Meridiana) capital," one source close to the matter said.

Qatar Airways declined to comment.

According to some Italian newspapers Qatar Airways could take a stake in the Italian carrier through a reserved capital increase.