11.   RJ operations are at present heavily subsidized by the government, whose plans to privatize the airline have been hampered by a host of bureaucratic and financial reasons.

12.   The airline was privatized two years ago, although the government still owns a quarter of the shares.

13.   The widespread losses also come at an inauspicious time for the government, which is planning to privatize both airlines.

14.   They welcomed plans to allow Air New Zealand to operate on a commercial basis but recommended the airline be privatized as soon as possible.

15.   Last month, the economic court halted moves to privatize the airline because of its debts to Baltija Bank, Latvian radio reported at the time.