Air France to get seven billion euro government aid package

The French government has announced a “historic” seven billion euro (£6 billion) aid package to rescue Air France, whose planes have been grounded by virus lockdowns around the world.

Speaking on national television TF1, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire pledged four billion euros of loan guarantees and three billion euros of direct loans to “save our national airline”.

In exchange for the bailout, Mr Le Maire said the government would set conditions of profitability and more environmentally sustainable, less polluting policies.

He said the government is not currently considering nationalising Air France.