Press: Government compensation for airlines possible

Czech government aid to compensate airlines for losses caused by the volcanic ash could be awarded, according to Tuesday’s edition of the newspaper Lidové noviny. It quoted comments from Minister of Finance Eduard Janota who suggested that the government might take advantage of signals from the European Commission that a certain amount of aid for airlines might be permitted without problems. Mr Janota said that he had asked state-owned carrier Czech Airlines to give him an estimate of its losses caused by the disruption. Other Czech airlines, such as charter airline Travel Service, would also have the right to any aid offered, so that competition rules would not be broken.