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KLM CEO says company will repay 3.4 billion euro coronavirus loans

FILE PHOTO: Elbers, President and CEO of KLM, addresses the audience during an IATA meeting in Cancun

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The chief executive of Air France-KLM's Dutch arm said on Friday the company would repay the 3.4 billion euros (3.08 billion pounds) in emergency government-backed loans it was taking on during the coronavirus crisis, rather than needing fresh equity.

"I read all the suggestions and the speculations about this, but we've agreed a loan with the government and banks," Pieter Elbers said on a call. The Dutch government is backing KLM's bailout on condition it cuts emissions by 50% by 2030.

"We are going to make a plan to make sure we pay off those loans," Elbers said, adding that the environmental goal was attainable.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Edmund Blair)