Kieran Daly/ZURICH
THE BELGIAN Government's exemption of flag carrier Sabena from social legislation responsible for some BFr650 million ($22 million) of the airline's annual costs has paved the way for its proposed co-operation with Swissair.
Swissair chief negotiator Alain Bandle says: "I think it is fair to say that we are expecting to pursue our negotiations and to finalise them before the Belgian elections [on 21 May]. It is our clear objective to do that, and it is the Belgian Government's objective."
Belgium's law change, achieved by Royal Decree on 3 March, is a "good, positive, signal", says Bandle. Together with synergistic savings of around BFr150 million a year, the move should save BFr800 million, which is Sabena president Pierre Godfroid's target figure.
The latest Swissair offer has not been confirmed by the airline. It is understood, from Belgian Government sources, to stand at BFr6 billion to buy 49.5% of Sabena, with additional money coming from the Belgian private sector.
Bandle says that Swissair's motivation is heavily linked to Sabena's hub inside the European Union, but also more widely related to Switzerland's national isolation.
Source: Flight International