The minister and opposition politicians paint a bleak outlook for airBaltic. The company's management is trying to maintain optimism.
This evening, a heated discussion continues on Latvian TV in the program Kas notiek Latvijā regarding the situation at airBaltic and the provision of a 30 million loan to the airline.
During the discussion, it was revealed that the protocol from the secret government meeting noted the possibility of loan non-repayment! In other words, the national airline, mired in debt, simply will not have the money to repay the loan to the state. At the same time, as stated on air by the Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity), if this loan is not provided, airBaltic may become insolvent at some point.
Saeima member from Latvia First Kristaps Kristopans reminded that the airline must pay 1 million daily in bond payments. The deputy rhetorically asked: how much should the airline earn per day to cover all current expenses and still pay 1 million on the loan (bonds)?!
Deputy Uldis Augulis (Union of Greens and Farmers) accused Minister of Transport Aitis Shvinkus of not being able to prepare proper documents for a decision on the loan. Moreover, the deputy has no confidence that this 30 million will actually go towards compensating for the increased aviation fuel costs.
