Latvia: Government proposes loan to airBaltic

The Latvian government has proposed granting a short-term loan of EUR 30mn to the national air carrier, airBaltic, due to the rapid rise in fuel prices, LSM reports. Speaking in an interview with LTV, Prime Minister Evika Silina admitted that the company may need more state support later, however. Earlier, LSM reported that airBaltic could need a loan of as much as EUR 100-150mn. Silina said that the airline must first draw up a new business strategy by June 2026, after which the government can decide if the company needs more financial support. She insisted that airBaltic was beneficial to the Latvian economy as a whole.