Minister: Slovenia could set up and fund new national carrier
The Slovenian Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Matjaž Han, has said the country should not be afraid from establishing a new national airline and subsidising the flag carrier. In an interview to the “Večer” daily, Mr Han said, “If we subsidise rail and bus passenger transport, we shouldn't be afraid to start our own airline and subsidise it as well. Public transport is much more than economic logic”. He added, “A new national carrier is being considered, but before we get to that, we cannot stand idly by. That is why we are trying to improve Slovenia’s connectivity by subsidising routes". The newly appointed Minister for Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek, said earlier this month the government would decide by mid-2023 whether a new national carrier could be established.
The Slovenian Parliament passed a bill yesterday aimed at boosting Slovenia's air connectivity. The scheme, under which 5.6 million euros in subsidies will be provided each year over the next three years to airlines, in order to cover 50% of their airport fees on new routes, is subject to approval by the European Commission. The aim is to improve air connectivity "with destinations that hold great importance for Slovenia, its citizens, tourism and the economy", the Ministry for Economic Development and Technology said. Jointly with the Ministry for Infrastructure it will select which routes should be subsidised. EU-registered airlines, as well as those from the European Common Aviation Area, will be eligible to take part in a public call, which will be organised once the scheme is approved by the EU. Funding will be provided only for routes that are not served by a high-speed rail service from Slovenia or another airport within a 100-kilometre radius from the destination.
Commenting on the subsidy scheme, Mr Han said, “Financial assistance for new routes will be available from all three international airports in Slovenia, meaning Portorož and Maribor, in addition to Ljubljana. Both Portorož and Maribor have potential. I don't know why we haven't been able to use these two airports in the last three decades". The Slovenian government recently launched tender procedures in a bid to find an interested concessionaire for Maribor Airport, which has become the former Yugoslavia’s least busy with under 4.000 passengers handled in 2022. Interested parties have until February 20 to submit their bids.
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