Etihad Airways May Eye Up Croatia Airlines Bid
- by croatiaweek
- in Business
United Arab Emirates Etihad Airways, who recently acquired a 49% stake in Serbian national carrier Jat Airways, may be eyeing up a stake in Croatia’s national carrier Croatia Airlines.
The Croatian government plans to issue a tender for the sale of a stake in the financially strapped airline by 15 October, reports daily Jutarnji list, with the transaction planned to be complete by February next year. It is not only Etihad Airways reportedly interested in Croatia Airlines.
Garuda Indonesia and China Southern Airlines are also reportedly keen with Croatia’s Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, and Croatia Airlines supervisory board president Siniša Petrović expected to meet Garuda Indonesia and Indonesian government officials next week.
“Croatia Airlines will look for a potential strategic partner. If that partner comes from outside the EU then the maximum share they can have will be 49%, if they come from within the EU then it can be 100%,” said Hajdas Doncic before summer.
