Lithuanian airlines sell-off plan to be unveiled

Lithuania's Transportation Ministry and the State Property Fund are set to make a decision on the privatization of the state-owned airline Lietuvos Avialinijos later this month.

Meetings with potential investors began earlier this month and are scheduled to end March 19, according to Alminas Maciulis, the deputy transportation minister and head of the airline's privatization commission.

"We will announce our conclusion as soon as all the potential investors have presented their strategies," he said.

The State Property Fund said at least three major air carriers had expressed interest in the airline.

Finland's Finnair, the Dutch airline KLM, British Airways, Germany's Lufthansa, Poland's LOT and Scandinavian Airlines System expressed interest in the company last year. SAS has since said it would not invest.

Neither the Transportation Ministry nor the State Property Fund has indicated which of those airlines, if any, are still interested.

Local press reports earlier this month hinted that the Danish airline Maersk would be named the strategic investor. Maersk officials confirmed they were interested in the airline.