Estonian Air negative decision would immediately ground flights
Should the European Commission's decision on the state bailout for national airline Estonian Air turn out to be negative, it would force the company into an immediate bankruptcy. Flights would cease on the day the decision is released.
A decision is expected on Saturday, and despite the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs remaining tight-lipped, many are expecting a negative outcome.
Travel agencies have already planned for the worse and are ready to bring clients back from abroad by other means.
“For us, this means a great deal of extra work and a great workload; all of our travel consultants have been asked to be ready behind their desks, with phone batteries charged and private matters put on hold, to start helping clients depending on where they are and what kind of help they need,” Go Travel product manager Age Põder told ERR.
If a negative decision does arrive, Estonian Air is likely to declare bankruptcy, which immediately means that no flight will take off.
Põder said Estonian Air is also working hard to prepare for either decision, adding that the state has promised not to cancel any flights. Yet, the aircraft which bring passengers to their final destinations will probably not belong to Estonian Air, she said.
Larger travel agencies said they have sold a few hundred tickets each on Estonian Air flights for the next week or two.
Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas said they are ready for any decision and that there is no point in speculation.
Editor: J.M. Laats