The Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire affirmed that the State will provide additional support to Air France if necessary.

On October 30 on Europe 1, the general manager of the company estimated that Air France would need "a recapitalization" to survive the Covid-19 crisis. 

The State will provide additional financial support to the airline Air France if necessary, the 7 billion euros in aid already granted not being "sufficient", Bruno Le Maire said on Monday who ruled out any "additional taxation" of the bloodless air sector.

"We will continue to support our national airline if the need arises," the Minister of Economy said on a

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, conceding that the aid already given to the carrier would not be enough.

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A question of national sovereignty

"It is a question of national sovereignty to have our own national airline, and then behind there are tens of thousands of jobs concerned", defended Bruno Le Maire.

The latter, however, ruled out any possibility of renationalizing the airline.

"We are not there yet, I do not think that this is necessarily the best option for the group," he said, believing that Air France should rather gain "in competitiveness" and be "at best international standards ".

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No "additional taxes"

Regarding possible counterparts in exchange for public aid, the minister said he was opposed to "additional taxes on an air transport sector which is now in the process of collapsing".


"It is not very profitable for the public accounts because it does not bring in much and then, it is to put a little more the head under water the sector", he justified.

However, Bruno Le Maire wanted to be firm on the efforts required of Air France to reduce its CO2 emissions and on internal transport.

"We are removing all domestic lines as soon as there is an alternative by train at less than 2:30," he insisted.

"I maintain this request and it will be respected, it is a commitment that Air France has made," he said.

"It is not consistent to have spent so much public money to put Bordeaux two hours from Paris by a high-speed line (...) and at the same time to keep an internal Paris-Bordeaux line by air transport . This is not good for the environment, it is not good for public finances, "he concluded.