"I'm optimistic that we'll find a solution which will also better connect Slovenia with the world through air transport, and as part of this, I believe we will find an adequate and EU-compatible solution to encourage such transport," he said as he addressed the press together with the other Modern Centre Party (SMC) ministers to mark the government's first 100 days in office.

Asked whether state aid for airlines was an option, he said the first step was the talks with several companies.

"We'll opt for the solution which will best connect Ljubljana with destinations which are important for us in terms of business," he said, pointing to Brussels, Frankfurt and Zürich.

Following the reopening of the border and relaunch of passenger air transport, several airlines have already returned to Ljubljana's international airport, including Air Serbia, Montenegro Airlines, Lufthansa, Wizzair and Transavia.

Air France and Brussels Airlines have announced their return to Ljubljana, with some other companies also expected to come back and charter flights to be relaunched. All of these airlines are however relaunching their services from and to Ljubljana in a limited scope.

Just recently, Fraport Slovenija, the operator of Ljubljana airport, has proposed to Počivalšek that the government provide incentives for airlines to fly to Brnik.

Its director Zmago Skobir told the newspaper Večer on Saturday that there was aggressive competition among airports in the region to attract airlines.

He said Slovenia had now more restrictions in place than other countries, which is a major obstacle to airlines returning fast.

The newspaper Delo has meanwhile reported that several individuals are still thinking about setting up a new Slovenian airline after Adria Airways went bankrupt in 2019.

An airline interested in flying to Ljubljana is also Croatia's flag carrier Croatia Airlines, which this week reportedly sent the government a request for an incentive.

Delo has also said that Fraport Slovenija would like the Croatian company to operate the routes to Vienna, Prague and Copenhagen.

Talks are meanwhile still under way between Fraport Slovenija and the trade union on the planned layoffs prompted by the loss of revenue due to the pandemic.

Fraport Slovenija told the STA today that the final figure of redundancies should be known in the week between 6 and 10 July.

The figure 120 has been mentioned, which is around a quarter of Fraport Slovenija employees.

The trade union would however like the management to wait with the layoffs until the end of the year, by which time the situation with air routes should be clearer.