Bulgaria: Interest in Bulgaria Air Sale

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Source: 1.reporter.gr

Bulgaria: Austrian, US Airlines Express Interest in Bulgaria Air Sale
11:35 - 18 July 2006

The Austrian Airlines, the local Hemus Air and a U.S. company have so far bought the tender documents for the privatisation of national flag-carrier Bulgaria Air, 'Dnevnik a.m.' reports.

Both the Austrian Airlines and Hemus Air confirmed the information.

Unless the carrier goes private by the fall, a further delay in its privatisation could be fatal for the company, said transport minister Petar Mutafchiev.

A Boeing 737 will be added to the eight-jet Bulgaria Air fleet this Saturday, boosting the delay-plagued carrier's capacity to performed scheduled flights on time.

The air carrier has been struggling to cope with jet undercapacity and the spike in oil prices. According to unofficial sources, Bulgaria Air has lost 15 mln levs so far in 2006.

The company, created to succeed bankrupt flag-carrier Balkan Airlines, was supposed to break even by the summer of 2006.