On Friday, Dubai airline Emirates said that it was not interested in taking part in a potential bid for Italy's struggling carrier, Alitalia, in contrast to the recent newspaper stories. There are lots of speculations about the possible takeover of Alitalia by many airlines, but no one of them has so far expressed their will.

A spokeswoman for Emirates said, "We are not interested. We are focused on our own organic growth".

In the early hours on Friday, Italian daily newspapers, Corriere della Sera and Il Messaggero, referred to market rumour that Emirates was in tune with a party being drawn together by an advisor to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for a potential bid for Alitalia. However, as from the statement of the spokeswoman, it is clear that Emirates is not at all concerned about any bid over Alitalia.

Bruno Ermolli, the adviser, is working on a plan to rescue the struggling Alitalia, which would take in a party of investors paying money for the carrier. But so far, no substantial solution has come before the eyes of authorities concerned about it.

In the past, the name of Emirates has turned up in the Italian media as a potential investor in Alitalia. But, in the month of September last year, it denied reports that it, along with a group of investors including US and Chinese funds, a group of African banks and an Italian partner, could invest in the struggling carrier.