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AirBaltic is in pre-IPO talks with one tactical partner, says CEO

Latvian provider airBaltic is in preIPO talks with one strategic financier at the minute, President Martin Gauss told Reuters on Monday, decreasing to discuss reports that the airline remained in conversations with Lufthansa relating to an investment.

In our case, we are speaking with one strategic pre-IPO financier, Gauss stated in an interview in London, including that in the IPO preparation stage, the provider could talk to other anchor and foundation investors.

Gauss had formerly said that he sees airBaltic one day belonging to a larger airline group like Lufthansa, however on Monday he reiterated that he does not see that happening in the next five years.

Executives, analysts and investors say the European airline sector needs more debt consolidation to prosper as numerous smaller national carriers continue to struggle.

Gauss stated airBaltic's distinct wet lease service - whereby it rents out some of its airplane to other airlines on a. temporary basis to plug capability spaces - offered it a benefit. ahead of its going public as airline companies around the. world dealt with jet shortages and shipment delays. The IPO on Nasdaq. Riga is set for either the 2nd half of this year or early in. 2025.

Recent occasions such as the machinists' strike at Boeing. , which might worsen delivery hold-ups for the airplane. manufacturer, might even more help airBaltic's service, he stated.

Last week, Lufthansa stated it was extending its damp lease. collaboration with airBaltic for another three years past the. summertime of 2025.

Gauss said airBaltic was also in talks with capacity. clients for its damp lease business in Saudi Arabia, India and. central Africa.

He declined to talk about the specific timing of the IPO.

There is a ... general opinion that around the

(source: Reuters)