Discussion on airBaltic share negotiations between Lithuania and Latvia proceeds with limited information available, as stated by the Lithuanian Minister.
In recent developments, both Lithuania and Estonia have received confidential offers to acquire stakes in airBaltic, the national airline of Latvia. The initial assessment of the offer by Lithuanian Transport Union (LTOU) was disclosed in early July. LTOU, the state-owned operator of Lithuania's three international airports, is currently assessing the offer. The offer made to Estonia was first publicly disclosed by Estonia's Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis in early July. According to the offer, Estonia could acquire a stake of up to 10 percent for 14 million euros. However, the contents of the offer received by Lithuania remain confidential, due to the request by Latvia's transport minister. The same package on the same terms was offered to Lithuania and Germany's Lufthansa. Germany's Lufthansa has also received an offer to acquire airBaltic shares. Latvia currently owns 97.97 percent of airBaltic, with the remaining shares held by Danish financial investor Aircraft Leasing 1. The Latvian government has offered Lithuania to buy shares in the national airline airBaltic, mirroring the offer made to Estonia. The Lithuanian Transport Minister, Eugenijus Sabutis, finds the offer insufficient due to lack of financial and other information about the company. He emphasised that the first thing required is normal financial and other relevant information about airBaltic. The Latvian Transport Ministry has made identical offers to acquire airBaltic shares to both Lithuania and Estonia. Both countries are currently evaluating the offers and seeking more information. The Lithuanian Airports have been tasked with presenting their position on the situation, while airBaltic in Latvia is also expected to present its stance. It is still unclear whether the version of the offer contents made public by the Estonian side matches the one received by Lithuania. The Lithuanian Transport Minister expects to receive more information and hopes to take a small step forward in the negotiations. The future of airBaltic's ownership structure remains uncertain, as both Lithuania and Estonia consider the offers they have received.
