Adria Airways will fly Slovenian officials to and from Brussels until October under a deal for 2,000 tickets worth SIT 294m (EUR 1.23m) that was signed on Tuesday by the flag carrier and the government.
State officials will fly economy class and Public Administration Minister Gregor Virant, who signed the deal on behalf of the government, said the state will save some SIT 55m (EUR 230,000).
According to Virant, this is a part of the government's efforts to curb public spending.
The contract was signed based on direct negotiations without a public tender, as Adria is the only carrier offering scheduled flights between Ljubljana and Brussels.
By the summer, the government will prepare an international tender for the flights, which Virant said would open the door for competition.
The Public Administration Ministry will shortly draw up public tenders for flights to other destinations as well.
The contract includes a provision on frequent-flyer bonuses which will be awarded to the state.
Adria has 11 weekly flights to Brussels, according to Brane Lucovnik, the carrier's chairman.
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