June 16 (SeeNews) - Serbia aims to limit the damage caused by the coronavirus crisis to its air transport sector to 250 million euro ($283 million) in 2020, the infrastructure ministry said.
The damage caused so far is estimated at some 100 million euro, the infrastructure ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The government is considering options for providing aid to flag carrier Air Serbia, including the subscription of a capital hike or the acquisition of new aircraft, the ministry said in response to a question sent by local weekly magazine Nin.
On Sunday, Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic said the government plans to hike the capital of Air Serbia and is ready to increase its stake in the company should equity partner Etihad Airways refuse to take part in the transaction.
On May 22, Air Serbia resumed commercial flights suspended on March 20 due to restrictions on travel aimed to limit the spread of the coronavirus infection. The government closed on March 19 the airports in Belgrade and Nis in order to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
($ = 0.882851 euro)