Air France-KLM får økonomisk støtte fra den franske stat - Twitter

Air France-KLM wins aid deal, flags likely share issue

Laurence Frost, Anthony Deutsch

4 MIN READ

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PARIS/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Air France-KLM (AIR.PA) secured 7 billion euros (6 billion pounds) in French government aid on Friday, as the airline industry struggles to survive the coronavirus crisis that has all but halted passenger traffic across much of the world.

France will issue 3 billion euros in loans as well as 90% guarantees on another 4 billion in bank lending to Air France, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said. The Dutch government said it was preparing a further 2-4 billion euros in aid to KLM.

In a video message to staff, Chief Executive Ben Smith said the aid was “not a blank cheque” and would require tough action on costs and performance.

Other major airlines including Germany’s Lufthansa LGAG.DE are negotiating government aid deals as they grapple with the air travel shutdown and deep uncertainty over the recovery outlook once the pandemic eases.

Le Maire, speaking on TF1 television, said the support came with unspecified conditions requiring Air France-KLM to “become the most environmentally friendly airline on the planet”. France is also preparing to back about 5 billion euros in loans to carmaker Renault (RENA.PA), he said.

Amid tensions between the French and Dutch governments, which each hold close to 14% of Air France-KLM, the company said Paris was likely to increase its investment over the coming year - raising the spectre of nationalisation.

The board will discuss a capital increase by next year’s shareholder meeting “at the latest”, Air France-KLM said, adding that France had already “indicated its intention to examine the conditions under which it might participate.”

Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra gave a briefing within an hour of his French counterpart’s to announce the KLM aid still awaiting approval, and said there would be a “conversation” among shareholders on a future capital increase.

“We have repeatedly said that as the government we will do all that we can to help KLM through this crisis,” Hoekstra said, citing its “vital role” in the Dutch economy.

The French state-guaranteed funding comes in the form of 4 billion euros in loans from a syndicate of six banks with a 12-month maturity, and a four-year, 3 billion-euro direct state loan. Both facilities can be extended twice by one year and are subject to EU approval.