1.   The west German state airline Lufthansa had reportedly presented various purchase plans but had faced opposition from the Federal Cartel Office.

2.   The agreement provided for the establishment of a joint venture between the Israeli and Soviet state airlines.

3.   But the Irish government has decided that a sale is the only way to keep the state airline, Aer Lingus, flying.

4.   Clearance of the aid for Iberia comes as the deadline arrives for negotiation of a labor dispute between the state airline and its pilots union.

5.   He is widely credited with slashing costs at British Airways and transforming the image of the former state airline.

6.   It would be hard to imagine a worse time to sell a minority stake in a money-losing state airline.

7.   Marshall took over in January, after overseeing the successful transition of British Airways Plc from state airline to private industry leader.

8.   The Spanish state airline is reviewing the American offer and a competing bid from Houston, Texas-based Continental Airlines Inc.

9.   Thornbeck admitted that it would not be easy to steer the former state airline to profitability.

10.   Urgiles, whose trip was paid for by an Ecuadoran television station and the state airline, said he had yet to absorb what had happened to his family.