The Cruise Company Aida Has Applied For State Aid

The Cruise Company Aida Has Applied For State Aid

The cruise company Aida has applied for state aid. As the NDR reports, citing an insider, a corresponding application has been made to the Economic Stabilization Fund. It is about aid amounting to 400 million euros. The state would vouch for the sum. A state participation is also under discussion. In the "Welt am Sonntag", Aida boss Michael Thamm said: "We are in talks with the federal government about granting loans in the mid three-digit million euro range." The Federal Ministry of Economics made no information. "We have lost sales of 400 million euros every month," said Thamm. "We cannot compensate for that with cost reductions." In the past few months, Europe's largest cruise operator Costa, to which Aida also belongs, has suffered a loss in the mid three-digit million range. Against this background, Thamm also promised price increases: "It is conceivable that cruises will be 10 to 15 percent more expensive," he said. Even so, Costa and Aida branded rides would "remain affordable". Thamm expects the provider to gradually have all ships in service over the course of 2021. If the pandemic allows, this will happen in spring. One will "try with great precision" not to let infected people on board. Then, however, customers will again be able to offer buffets, pool parties and discos on board. Nevertheless, the Costa Group does not want to order any more ships for the time being. Four new buildings ordered will be accepted as planned. "We will then be big enough and will not order any new ships in the next two to three years," he said. "This will certainly lead to dramatic failures at shipyards and suppliers," said the Costa boss.