Masiulis suggests returning to joint Baltic airlines idea

VILNIUS - After the talks that Latvia considers to sell a half of the airline airBaltic and the suggestion by Estonian politicians to join airBaltic and Estonian Air together, Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications Eligijus Masiulis says that back in 2009 this idea was proposed at the meeting of three Baltic ministers.

"The return to this subject only confirms our insights that the Baltic aviation market is too small for each of three countries to have cost-effective airline company," says the minister.

According to Masiulis, the competition and cost growth will force companies to seek for the cooperation and the unification, writes LETA/ELTA.

The Baltic States may also benefit from the experience of the Scandinavian countries and the development of the airline SAS.

Lithuanian Ministry of Transport and Communications is going to offer all three countries to work together on the economic evaluation of the establishment of such company.