15,806 applications submitted for Estonian Air ticket reimbursements
Monday was the last day for Estonian Air passengers who didn’t get their tickets replaced when the airline went into liquidation to demand compensation for tickets bought. 15,806 applications were submitted.
As of Tuesday no more applications can be submitted. Reimbursements to passengers will begin in a few months, Spokesman for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications Rasmus Ruuda told the Baltic News Service.
The government decided last November to allocate €6.2m to compensate passengers for tickets to flights that never happened because of the company ending its operations.
The European Commission's Directorate General for Competition ruled at the beginning of November 2015 that state aid that had been provided to Estonian Air was not legal, and that the airline had to pay the money back to the state.
The national carrier ceased operations on 7 November and filed for bankruptcy the same month. Estonian Air was declared bankrupt at the end of December 2015.
The Estonian government repeatedly injected capital into the airline. Contributions made between 2008 and 2014 amounted to approximately €130m. The European Commission opened an in-depth inquiry in February 2013 into these support measures granted to the airline, expressing doubts about the measures being in line with EU state aid rules.
Trustees in the bankruptcy said that Estonian Air’s creditors have claims worth some €129m.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn