Journalists from the TV3 news service decided to clarify what decision the government made this Friday, considering that the meeting was held in secret mode. Here is what the television reporters noted. "Despite the fact that it was widely discussed publicly that the state was ready to lend another 30 million euros to the troubled airline 'airBaltic', the government actually made a decision on Friday regarding a much larger support package for the enterprise. In response to a request to specify the Cabinet of Ministers' decision, TV3 learned from the Ministry of Transport that not only was this possible additional loan of up to 30 million euros supported under the bond program, but also the abandonment of claims regarding the current 50 million euros in bonds held by the state, converting them into shares of 'airBaltic'. "All these decisions are part of a broader range of measures to implement the business plan of the enterprise and to streamline finances. Some of these measures may become necessary later in the process depending on how the implementation of the business plan and negotiations with the company's financial partners and creditors proceed. Therefore, it is already timely to ensure the corresponding mandate from the Saeima for possible further actions," the Ministry of Transport commented. Furthermore, the government decided that it could not only extend the repayment period of the extraordinary loan approved by the Saeima in the spring but also that the requirement for the remaining amount of this loan could be abandoned, converting it into shares of capital. Considering all these existing and potential obligations, according to TV3 news calculations, the actual support package for 'airBaltic' being considered by the government is estimated to be at least 100 million euros," the TV3 report stated.
