THE HAGUE, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch state has taken a 12.68 percent stake in the Franco-Dutch airline Air France-KLM for 680 million euros (775 million U.S. dollars), Dutch finance minister Wopke Hoekstra announced here Tuesday.
The Netherlands further aims to increase its share to 14.3 percent -- the level of the shares held by the state of France in the airline.
The Netherlands made the move because it wants direct influence on the airline so that Dutch public interests can be optimally guaranteed, according to the Dutch government.
The position of Amsterdam Schiphol airport and its main user KLM, the Dutch division of Air France-KLM, are of great importance for the Dutch economy and employment. Thousands of jobs are involved with the airport and the intercontinental network of KLM destinations. This network is also an important reason for foreign companies to settle in the Netherlands.
In recent years, however, it has become apparent that important decisions about KLM's strategy were increasingly taken at the level of Air France-KLM. In addition, there was some Dutch dissatisfaction about the way to move towards the future.
"This means that Air France-KLM can focus on the future in which it will have to compete with other airlines," said Hoekstra. "The company will have to become more competitive. That is in the interest of KLM and Schiphol and therefore in the public interest of the Netherlands. As a shareholder in Air France-KLM and in KLM, the Dutch state is on top of it."
