Airport, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Transport

Slesers points out in an interview with the newspaper Neatkariga that at one time the airline developed, launched new routes and conquered new markets. "It is the opposite now, airBaltic flights are cut, markets – abandoned. Moreover, the president of Estonia's airline teaches Riga 'how to live.' During my time, Tallinn was not a serious rival for Riga," explains the former politician, writes LETA.

The decision on the airport's new terminal was already made once. The project's investors were ready to risk and invest EUR 300 million (LVL 210 million) in its construction.

"The project was buried. Due to our politicians' shortsightedness, Latvia's aviation is currently in a sad state, giving up its positions to neighbors, rivals," emphasizes Slesers.

Slesers points out that airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss, who replaced the airline's former president Bertolt Flick, previously worked at the Hungarian airline Malev. Malev went bankrupt and Gauss, who is partially responsible for its collapse, is now in charge of airBaltic. "Flick was accused of receiving inadequate salary. However, Gauss' is paid exactly the same amount – LVL 20,000, but no one is saying that he should get by with the minimum monthly wage," adds the ex-minister.

As reported, airBaltic plans consolidation of LVL 330 million by 2016 in attempting to reduce costs and increase revenue, according to the airline's business plan, reviewed by the government on March 6.

Transport Ministry State Secretary Anrijs Matiss told reporters that increasing revenue will account for the bulk of the amount. The revenue can be increased by improving the passenger load factor, optimizing the network of destinations and pricing policy, and insuring against fuel risks.