A Belgian Government minister says troubled flag-carrier Sabena "is of too much strategic importance to disappear". Minister for state-owned companies Rik Daems defended Sabena after the airline's new chief executive Christoph Müller warned that, if it was "not making significant progress by the end of the winter", he would be forced "to question the raison d'être of the company".
Müller adds that, if Sabena "is neither in a position to reach an agreement with its employees nor to undergo structural changes, the situation could become 'life threatening'". Its unions, which under Belgian law must be informed of such developments, reacted with hostility, and Müller plans to meet with their representatives.
The Belgian Government owns 50.5% of Sabena, with the rest held by SAirGroup. The Swissair parent wants to increase its stake to 85%, but must await ratification by national governments of a treaty between Switzerland and the European Union.
Source: Flight International
