Airport News

Slovenia's state investment firm SDH, which is in charge of selling state assets, said it would start exclusive talks over Ljubljana airport with Germany's Fraport.

The talks for a purchase of Aerodrom Ljubljana will continue for a limited period, SDH said on its website, adding that Fraport was the highest bidder.

If the talks were successful, Fraport, operator of Frankfurt, Europe's third-largest airport, would beat France's Vinci.

The Slovenian government had said it expected binding bids for the 75.5 percent controlling stake in its largest airport in July.

Selling off state-owned companies is seen as a key component of Slovenia's ability to stabilise its finances and its economy after the government had to spend EUR€3 billion (USD$4 billion) last year to rescue troubled banks and narrowly avoided having to seek an international bailout.