Hainan Airlines (HU, Haikou) has reportedly written to Rothschild Bank AG informing them of their interest in a stake in Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino), Italy's Il Messaggero has reported. Although no exact details on the development have been revealed, the Chinese airline now joins the growing list of global airlines (Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) and Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo) being the others) that have reportedly expressed an interest in the ailing Italian national carrier. In late September, Alitalia CEO Gabriele Del Torchio was quoted by Reuters as saying that Chinese, Russian and Emirati investors had expressed a desire for a stake in the airline but did not elaborate on whom they were. Meanwhile, Alitalia says it has now raised EUR130million (USD170million) of the EUR300million capital increase announced last week. Half was sourced from shareholders Intesa Sanpaolo, Atlantia and Immsi, the other half from creditors Intesa and UniCredit. However, state-controlled Poste Italiane's plans to invest EUR75million in the airline may be blocked following reports that the European Commission has launched an investigation on the grounds that the investment contravenes EU regulations concerning state-funding.