Alitalia forecasts 2018 sales rise, helped by new routes

ROME, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Alitalia (Stuttgart: 2278962.SG - news) 's revenues rose by 1 percent in 2017, following six years of falling sales and the insolvent Italian airline aims to do better this year, its Chief (Taiwan OTC: 3345.TWO - news) Commercial Officer Fabio Maria Lazzerini said on Monday.

Alitalia, which has made a profit only a few times in its 70-year history, was put under special administration last year after staff rejected a plan to cut jobs and salaries.

The Italian government is now looking for a buyer for the national carrier, hoping to strike a deal before national elections due March 4.

For 2018, Alitalia expects a "considerable" increase in sales and passengers, Lazzerini said during a conference in Rome, according to comments confirmed by a spokesman.

Alitalia's December sales grew by around 3 percent. It expects sales to rise between 4-5 percent in the first quarter, helped by new routes and plans to fill more seats, with the load factor seen growing between 6 and 7 percent.

Germany's Lufthansa (Xetra: LHAB.DE - news) , British low-cost carrier easyJet and U.S. private equity fund Cerberus are among those that have expressed an interest in buying Alitalia, which controls valuable take-off and landing slots in the world's fifth-largest tourist destination. (Reporting by Alberto Sisto; writing by Francesca Piscioneri; editing by Alexander Smith)