Transport Minister: Czech Airlines lost almost four billion Czech crowns in 2008

The minister of transport, Gustav Slamečka, said in an interview with the Czech daily Hospodářské Noviny on Monday that Czech Airlines’ operating costs had lead to losses of approximately four billion Czech crowns in 2008. He said that the number of passengers who travelled with Czech Airlines in that period is estimated to be about four million, which means that with each passenger, the airline suffered a loss of roughly 1000 crowns. Mr. Slamečka supported the airline’s proposed three-year restructuring plan, which the government approved on Monday. The plan seeks to cut costs by gradually changing the company into a holding company. Other cost-cutting measures include cuts in staff and the number of planes in the Czech Airlines fleet.