The chairman of Hungary’s troubled national carrier Malev assured passengers in an interview on public television on Wednesday that the airline would continue to fly in spite of a recent European Commission decision ordering the recovery of HUF 70bn-100bn in illegal state aid.

“I’m here to reassure passengers that Malev is flying and will continue to fly,” Janos Berenyi said on m1’s Ma Reggel show. He added that the Commission’s decision would not affect the day-to-day operation of the airline.

Mr Berenyi said Malev could not pay back the state aid from its own resources, but added that the government was dealing with the matter at the highest levels.

Asked about the possible involvement of a professional investor, Mr Berneyi said only that Malev’s owner would take any such decision.

The National Development Ministry said on Tuesday that the government could take a decision on Malev’s future at a cabinet meeting on January 16.