Government Plans to Set Up State Airlift Fleet

The government has invited a tender to purchase three aircraft, which would fly with the

state airlift fleet and would be operated by the military, the Hungarian daily Népszabadság

reported on Tuesday, June 18. The tender is about two packages – one includes two passenger

planes and one transport aircraft offered for purchase (the latter must be suitable for passenger

transport), and the other package also includes three aircraft, but with reversed roles. The

interested defence industry companies can buy the tender documentation for 1,200 euros. The

deadline of the contract is December 31, 2013.

The Ministry of Defence informed Népszabadság that “with Malév Hungarian Airlines

closing its operation, a capability has been lost that was strategically important for the

country and needs to be replaced. The establishment of the State Airlift Fleet suggested by

the Ministry of Defence is not meant to occupy the role of Malév – it is a proposal for airlift

with state-owned aircraft operated by the military, which meets military, state and civil

requirements and takes into account the aspects of national security as well."