easyjet has walked away from talks to join a consortium that would have bid for Italian flag-carrier Alitalia. The UK-based low-cost carrier has been in talks with Delta Air Lines and Italian railway company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane about a possible deal to take-over the stricken carrier. Alitalia went into administration in early 2017 after workers rejected a plan to cut jobs and salaries.ADVERTISEMENTThe decision followed a decade of poor financial performance and government bailouts at the state-owned airline. Alitalia has limped on in recent years, supported up by the government, which has been looking for a buyer The three parties had entered discussions in February about potentially forming a consortium, although easyjet warned at the time it was not certain whether a transaction for Alitalia would materialise. The Italian government has set an end-of-March deadline for Delta and Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane to come up with a rescue plan for Alitalia. Older Marriott outlines plans for 1,700 new hotels over next three years Newer easyJet Holidays announces creation of new executive board Let's block ads! (Why?)