ALM Antillean Airlines
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Schiphol Group asked Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's government to declare by next month whether it was willing to float part of the state's 75.8 percent stake, the airport operator's spokeswoman Marianne De Bie said.
Schiphol is the hub for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Air France received clearance from Brussels earlier this month to take over KLM to create the world's biggest airline by revenue.
Schiphol Group, which is seeking to expand internationally, said the Dutch government first announced it would consider selling part of the state's stake in the airport in 1997.
Schiphol Chief Executive Gerlach Cerfontaine called on the government to clarify its position on a listing after the company announced its 2003 results, De Bie said.
"He (Cerfontaine) said... 'please give us clarity. The government may wait for a better time to sell its shares but please make a decision'," De Bie said, quoting him.
"It's a worldwide trend that airports are privatized. We want a level playing field. We want to make money out of our knowledge and success," De Bie said.
In addition to the Dutch state, the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam own 21.8 percent and 2.4 percent stakes respectively in the airport on the outskirts of the Dutch capital.
The company reported a big profit rise for 2003 on Thursday but added that this was mainly due to unrealized gains on property investments.
Schiphol is the hub for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Air France received clearance from Brussels earlier this month to take over KLM to create the world's biggest airline by revenue.
Schiphol Group, which is seeking to expand internationally, said the Dutch government first announced it would consider selling part of the state's stake in the airport in 1997.
Schiphol Chief Executive Gerlach Cerfontaine called on the government to clarify its position on a listing after the company announced its 2003 results, De Bie said.
"He (Cerfontaine) said... 'please give us clarity. The government may wait for a better time to sell its shares but please make a decision'," De Bie said, quoting him.
"It's a worldwide trend that airports are privatized. We want a level playing field. We want to make money out of our knowledge and success," De Bie said.
In addition to the Dutch state, the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam own 21.8 percent and 2.4 percent stakes respectively in the airport on the outskirts of the Dutch capital.
The company reported a big profit rise for 2003 on Thursday but added that this was mainly due to unrealized gains on property investments.
