"The SR government adopted a proposal to cancel the designation of the Slovenské aerolínie air flight company (SA), a.s. Bratislava as the national air flight carrier." This concise news item astounded not only the Slovak and Czech media, even the International Air Transport Association IATA responded to it. Business partners, clients, and also general public of the country are shocked. Did the Slovenské aerolínie situation have to go as far as that?

Unhappy statement

The SR government requests 34 mil. SKK from the Slovenské aerolínie, paid in last year as part of the state capital participation. The state wants to cancel unfavourable leasing contracts with SA for three TU-154M planes acquired as a Russian debt compensation payment, planning to hire them at better conditions or sell them to the future client. It should be stated, however, that the birth certificate of these planes had not been issued even a year ago. Neither were the Slovenské aerolínie granted a commercial flight licence - allegedly due to lack of transparency on capital structure of this company. The SA management opposes this argumentation and claims a stable shareholding structure of the company.

A step back?

Gabriel Palacka, SR Minister of transport, postal service and telecommunication, declared publicly that the transport priority in Slovakia will be the coach and rail transport. This paradox hurts, stupefies, and irritates, and most people that are not involved do not understand this questionable decision. Anticipating a dignified EU membership involves Slovak certified air transport as a priority. Instead, this opens wide the door for foreign investors to take over the Slovak air transport. Is our economic position really as bad as that? Do we have to give up such lucrative business? And will the potential foreign investors find compatible conditions in Slovakia to those in other European countries? As an example, in contrary to the SR, most advanced countries do not impose customs for costly air flight technology imports, thus indirectly supporting the development of the country economy.

Central European triangle of three historical cities

Bratislava has an optimal perspective, and also an ideal chance to become an interesting business partner in travel and active tourism. Even the antipodes would have to find a visit to the Bratislava - Budapest - Vienna triangle of three historical cities attractive. Prague can also be easily reached from Bratislava. But without the air transport it will be difficult to confine travellers to trains or busses. Not at the entry point into the third millennium!

What are the options for co-operation?

Although Vienna has been proposing to Bratislava an air transport co-operation programme, it is purely a professional business. The Austrian Schwechat Airport transfers annually some 10 million travellers, but its two take-off and landing runways do not permit their simultaneous operation due to mutual orientation. Although the third runway development is planned, the long-term Austrian model of co-operation would help the International Schwechat Airport. This implies that this long-term development plan of the Bratislava and Schwechat Airports on the common air transport market is probably the main reason why Austria wants to gain capital participation in the Bratislava Airport as soon as possible.

Only with air transport for the future

Yet the client rivalry would probably not be over even if the decision was in favour of the Slovenské aerolínie. It is not only the matter of a permanently growing travel and passive tourism that would help relief our travel agencies from begging for co-operation of foreign air carriers. This is also a matter of a large gap in the field of travel linked with active tourism. Our country is rich in scenic beauties, famous spa resorts, remarkable historical sights and also a vast commercial and business potential. All this can be wasted without own air transport facilities. No doubt, completion of the motorways is vital, as well as direct railway connection between the Bratislava/Vienna airport terminals to improve overall infrastructure and services in the country. But if we want to become equal EU members, without combining human energy with enlightened logic no progress can be expected.