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The government proposes to extend the withdrawal period of the aviation guarantee scheme until the New Year. – The current aviation situation is more enduring and serious than expected when the scheme was originally adopted in March, says the Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Trade and Industry Minister Iselin Nybø announced Sunday afternoon that the plan will run through 2020.
Ørn E. Borgen / NTB
Published:,
The change must be approved by the EFTA Surveillance Authority, Esa. The government announces the news through a press release.
Aviation has been hit hard by the corona pandemic. The government responded, among other things, by launching a NOK 6 billion industry loan guarantee scheme for airlines with Norwegian operational access.
– The current aviation situation is more protracted and serious than expected when the plan was originally adopted in March. The government will help sustain Norwegian aviation during a very financially demanding period, Trade and Industry Minister Iselin Nybø (V) says in the report.
– The change we are proposing now will make it easier for the scheme to help more airlines than those that have used it so far, Nybø says.
Both SAS and Norwegian have been hit hard by the crown crisis. The photo was taken at Værnes airport.
Gorm Kallestad / NTB
Six trillion
Of the six billion offered in the scheme, three of them have gone to Norwegian. SAS received NOK 1.5 billion, while the last 1.5 billion went to Widerøe and other airlines.
The Export Credit Guarantee Institute (GIEK) administers the scheme.
Widerøe, which is owned by Torghatten and Fjord1, has previously refused to use any of the plans. The reason is that it is expensive, since the state is paid compensation for providing a guarantee, because the interest rate is high.
E24 wrote earlier this month that Widerøe also decided to use the scheme.
– Yes, we decided to use it. We are working on it now and there are around 500 million. But unfortunately it is expensive, said Widerøe boss Stein Nilsen in an interview.
Aviation leaders met with Trade and Industry Minister Iselin Nybø (V) and Transport Minister Knut Arild Hareide (KrF) earlier this month.
Jil Yngland / NTB
Meetings with ministers
E24 wrote in early September that SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe, along with NHO, had approached Trade and Industry Minister Iselin Nybø (V) and Transport Minister Knut Arild Hareide (KrF) to report on the situation at the found the industry.
The group wanted tax adjustments and compensation for the measures implemented.
The Minister of Commerce and Industry stated in connection with the input meeting that aviation had been dealing with itself. Industry is not part of the package of measures for tourism.
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