newstodate.aero
Nov 22, 2012 (newstodate): The Latvian carrier airBaltic is now preparing for a thorough reading of the 21 pages of communication from the EU Commission that is to probe into the airline's recent past.
The EU Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to verify whether various public support measures provided by Latvia in favour of the majority State-owned airline airBaltic are in line with EU state aid rules.
At this stage, the Commission has doubts that these measures were carried out on terms that a private player operating under market conditions would have accepted.
The action by the EU Commission follows on the filing of two complaints against the Latvian carrier airBaltic from BAS, Baltic Aviation Systems, a former shareholder in the carrier, and Inga Piterniece, a former BAS board member.
In both cases, the former shareholders have complained about the actions taken by the shareholders (read: the Latvian state) that subsequently led to re-shaping the airline and firing the earlier top-executive and main shareholder in BAS, Bertolt Flick and reinstating a new management in the now nearly 100 percent state-owned company.
-We will take our time to read through the complaints and the formal material received from the EU Commission before making any statements, says Janis Vanags, airBaltic VP Corporate Communications.
-I am, however, convinced that we will not be able to verify in full the picture painted by these complaints and may eventually arrive at a different version of the truth. But first we will study all details carefully together with experts, and then we will present our views, says Mr Vanags.
The EU Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to verify whether various public support measures provided by Latvia in favour of the majority State-owned airline airBaltic are in line with EU state aid rules.
At this stage, the Commission has doubts that these measures were carried out on terms that a private player operating under market conditions would have accepted.
The action by the EU Commission follows on the filing of two complaints against the Latvian carrier airBaltic from BAS, Baltic Aviation Systems, a former shareholder in the carrier, and Inga Piterniece, a former BAS board member.
In both cases, the former shareholders have complained about the actions taken by the shareholders (read: the Latvian state) that subsequently led to re-shaping the airline and firing the earlier top-executive and main shareholder in BAS, Bertolt Flick and reinstating a new management in the now nearly 100 percent state-owned company.
-We will take our time to read through the complaints and the formal material received from the EU Commission before making any statements, says Janis Vanags, airBaltic VP Corporate Communications.
-I am, however, convinced that we will not be able to verify in full the picture painted by these complaints and may eventually arrive at a different version of the truth. But first we will study all details carefully together with experts, and then we will present our views, says Mr Vanags.