Matiss described the current situation with finding an investor for airBaltic as active and now in the negotiation stage. Matiss said that there are two or even three possible scenarios. First two deal with attracting a private investor, but the third with the suggested possibility that Lithuania and Estonia could become shareholders in the Latvian airline.
Matiss did not name the two potential investors, but described them both as aviation companies, one being from Europe, the other – from farther away. There has been better progress in talks with the private companies than in talks with the Baltic countries about joint management of airBaltic, said Matiss. He emphasized that one possibility does not exclude the other, that is, there is a possibility that both private investors and the three Baltic countries could become shareholders in the company, with the Baltic countries owning 50% plus one share.
Latvia would benefit from either of the options, both giving new development opportunities for the airline, added the minister.
