Originally Posted by
pax2908
I hazard a guess that Elbers "refused" (allegedly) to become AFKL CEO last year, not because he did not want, but perhaps he was not yet fully ready at the time. In other words the most recent event (the Dutch gov't buying shares of AFKL) would have been in preparation for quite some time ... order of 1 year perhaps?
What I read in the media was that the dutch govt started to prepare this audacious move in 2017. After Delta and China Eastern acquired 8.76% and the dutch government was NOT consulted, they realised that the connectivity of the Netherlands was at stake. The open economy and global orientation of NL requires a global airline and mainport; Schiphol and KLM.
AF was not willing/able/forthcoming to give necessary guarantees to that effect.
So back then, starting in 2017, the dutch govt devised a road map to defend the economic stakes.
This has nothing to do with profit or share holder value. This is about economic vitality and survival in the world economy.
The NL govt consulted frequently whether the French shares could be sold.
Apparently not.
This is the result: some sort of economic warfare, in which Ben Smith did not think he would end up into.