"Jat Airways" if asking a 12,3 million euros loan from the Government of Serbia for resolving the question of excess of the employees and for maintaining the base

General Manager of "Jat Airways", Sasa Vlaisavljevic stated that this state airline company had asked a 12,3 million euros one-year loan from the Government.

- "Jat Airways" has asked for the loan from the Government, and it offered its property in Serbia and abroad as a guarantee for paying back the loan. We need 7,5 million euros for the program which would solve excess employees, and also 4,8 million euros for investing in the regular maintenance of the base, Vlaisavljevic said.

He also explained that according European Union's regulation "Jat Airways" didn't have the right to subventions from the budget, therefore this airline company had asked either a bank guarantee for long term loan from the bank or a loan guaranteed by the property.

According to earlier information, the number of employees at "Jat Airways" should be reduced by around 600.

- At the moment we are in the process of consolidation and in 2009, "Jat Airways" will be flying with the existing base of 16 airplanes. Purchase of new planes, through leasing is planned in the second phase, from Spring, 2010, Vlaisavljevic said.

He mentioned that non of the employment from Jat Airways was included in the Government's team for measures planned for that company,, which is in state's ownership.

Public company, Jat Airways, had around 1.800 employees in the last year.