The Anti-Corruption Bureau is checking the head of airBaltic for conflicts of interest

The Latvian Bureau for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption (BPBC, KNAB) has begun checking whether the Chairman of the Board of the national airline airBaltic, Martin Gauss, is in a situation of conflict of interest, reports LSM with reference to LETA.

  • Chairman of the Board of the national airline airBaltic Martin Gauss. Photo: Gints Ivuskans

According to the agency, KNAB received a statement from a private individual about a possible conflict of interest of Martin Gauss and is now conducting a corresponding investigation. LETA explains that at the beginning of January, a representative of the National Association, Girts Lapins, wrote on social networks that Gaus, through the company MaGau GmbH, owns the company 2e Systems GmbH, which is a supplier to airBaltic.

At the moment, airBaltic representatives are preparing answers to the agency’s questions about this situation.

On the website of 2e Systems GmbH, the Latvian national air carrier is listed as a client and it is reported that the companies – 2e Systems and airBaltic – began a project in 2019 to expand and improve the latter’s online purchase and booking system.

As previously reported, in early January, airBaltic announced the cancellation of more than 4,600 flights this summer season due to unexpected delays in engine maintenance: manufacturer Pratt & Whitney informed the airline of expected delivery delays in 2025, due to which some Airbus A220 aircraft 300 will not be able to fly.

Reacting to the situation, Latvian Economy Minister Viktor Valainis expressed the opinion that the airline needs new management. However, this Monday the coalition parties did not decide whether to push for the replacement of Martin Gauss. According to Prime Minister Evika Silini, the coalition expects the airline’s current management to be assessed at a shareholders meeting scheduled for January 21.

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