The Italian government has approved $478 million in emergency financing for Alitalia. The decision was made at an Cabinet meeting called after Air France-KLM announced it had withdrawn its bid to purchase the struggling, state-run airline. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.

Romano Prodi (file photo)

The outgoing government of Prime Minister Romano Prodi approved the loan, in a hastily called Cabinet meeting. The $478 million is an effort to keep the cash-strapped Italian state airline Alitalia in business and to avert an immediate bankruptcy.

Mr. Prodi says the move is intended to give the incoming conservative government of Silvio Berlusconi time to make decisions on Alitalia. Mr. Berlusconi won general elections, earlier this month, and is expected to take over as prime minister in May.

Addressing reporters at the end of the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Prodi said Berlusconi asked him to provide a more considerable bridge loan than the one his Cabinet had foreseen, to have the time to put together and organize possible alternative solutions.

Mr. Prodi says the loan is a "short-term measure" that would have to be repaid by the airline by the end of the year.

Alitalia employee waits for passengers at check-in gate at Milan's Malpensa airport (file photo)

Unions, which had opposed Air France-KLM's plan for Alitalia, welcomed the loan. The French-Dutch group announced Monday night that it no longer considered its offer to purchase the struggling Italian airline valid.

Unions and Alitalia management are now scheduled to meet, Thursday.

The airline, which is suffering from competition from low-cost carriers and is operating an outdated fleet, is losing some $1.6 million a day. Trading in Alitalia shares has been suspended on the Milan stock exchange.