ZAGREB, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Croatia's national carrier Croatia Airlines is seeking a strategic partner, with potential partners having shown interest, Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butkovic said here on Wednesday.
Butkovic believes that a special committee will be formed on Thursday at the government session which would, together with the company's management, work on finding a strategic partner, Croatian news agency Hina reported.
The management board should soon select a financial adviser who should offer models that could be applied to find a strategic partner.
The minister said the government had earlier tried to find partners for the company, but none had shown interest until now.
He explained that a potential strategic partner who doesn't come from the European Union cannot become the owner of more than 49 percent of the company. "It doesn't mean that someone will not be interested just because it cannot become a major owner," Butkovic told reporters.
Croatia Airlines was established in 1989 and now has 12 aircraft. In 2017, the company for the first time recorded more than two million passengers. However, the company faces financial problems and is in need of a new strategic partner.
On Feb. 12, the management finally reached an agreement with union members and a new collective agreement was signed.
Last agreement expired in December 2016 and for two years the management and unions couldn't reach an agreement.
Last year, in the midst of tourist season, employees of the company announced a strike and then postponed it after the meeting with Croatian prime minister. A Zagreb Court later ruled that the strike action planned by the union was illegal and therefore prohibited the strike.
