“We simply help an already existing and profitable company to develop,” said Edgars Klētnieks, advisor to the Minister of Transport (P), in the TV24 program “Personality of the Day with Velta Puriņa”.
Commenting on the planned purchase of “airBaltic” bonds, Klētnieks emphasizes in the program that the company “airBaltic” is developing and the financial indicators are very good. “If you look at the first quarter of this year, it is estimated that the revenue of “airBaltic” was 132 million euros, and if we compare with the purchase of bonds at 136 million euros, we can see that the company is already getting the same amount in revenue,” says Klētnieks.
“It is important for us as a country that our airline is strong not only in terms of safety, but also economically. Latvia’s annual aviation export is 880 million, “airBaltic” has already paid 400 million in taxes during the year, therefore the fact that the state buys “airBaltic” bonds, there is no rescue,” Klētnieks believes.
The advisor emphasizes that from the point of view of investors, the fact that Latvia has its own national airline, which has 70 direct flight destinations, can be a decisive moment. Also, Latvia has to defend its airline and earn from it.
(Watch from 3:06 min)
