Alitalia, which is losing €2 million a day, was put under a new temporary administrator this month after a consortium of potential rescuers backed out.

Patuanelli was quoted as saying by Italian newspaper Il Messaggero that he had signed off a further loan of €400 million this week to keep the loss-making carrier in business.

“This is really the last state intervention for Alitalia,” Patuanelli said adding that either a buyer was found by mid 2020 or the company “would shut down”.

The minister dismissed the possibility of the loan being considered illegal state aid by the European Commission.

“We will change the Alitalia brand and the company’s structure,” Patuanelli said, without elaborating.

Industry analysts calculate Alitalia, which went through two previous rescues in 2008 and 2014, has already burnt through roughly €9 billion in taxpayers’ money.