Alitalia plays for time with survival at risk

Economy Minister Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, who is driving the sale, has said unions must make a move fast or risk special administration for the airline -- under which the government would appoint someone to sort out whether it could fly on.

Alitalia's shares are suspended awaiting the board's decision on Tuesday.

(Writing by Jo Winterbottom; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

(Additional reporting by Alberto Sisto in Rome)