10/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Air France-KLM corporation has made a formal request for clearance of its proposed acquisition of part of the airline company, Alitalia. Air France-KLM and the Italian company, Air One, each expressed interest on Thursday 6 December for acquisition of the 49.9% stake held by the Italian state in the company's capital. Alitalia is currently undergoing major difficulties. The third bidder, Lufthansa, has withdrawn. The European Commission will proceed to its analysis of the merger envisaged once the Alitalia management board has decided to take up one of the offers, probably within the next few days. Alitalia CEO Maurizio Prato has expressed a preference for the acquisition proposal from the French-Dutch group. (C.D.)