Alitalia chief executive Gabriele Del Torchio denied a newspaper report yesterday that Etihad Airways had set a deadline of July 28 to agree its planned merger with the troubled Italian carrier.

“That’s not what I understand,” he told reporters before a shareholder meeting.

In an unsourced report, the Corriere della Sera daily reported that Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan had given Alitalia until Monday to agree to the tie-up or else the Gulf carrier’s proposal would no longer stand.

Separately a shareholder, who declined to be quoted by name, said yesterday’s meeting would only approve a planned capital increase of up to €250 million and sign off on last year’s accounts. Investors will not sign off on an accord with Etihad, he added.

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