The following are also members of the steering committee: Rainer E. Gut, Chairman of the Board of Nestlé SA, State Councillor Ruedi Jeker, Head of the Directorate for Economic Affairs for Canton Zurich and Peter Siegenthaler, Director of the Federal Finance Administration. A further member, a specialist from the aviation industry, has yet to be appointed. Furthermore, Nicolas G. Hayek has also stated that he would be available to the committee in an advisory capacity.
The committee is dealing with the preparatory tasks, firstly, of appointing the new airline's Board of Directors, secondly, of ensuring the controlling of the principle agreement between the capital providers - particularly regarding the financing plan - and thirdly, it is supervising the process of integration until the Board of Directors is appointed. This should take place in December. The steering committee is not responsible for operational matters however, these lie with the proper bodies of the individual companies. The mandate of the steering committee expires with the appointment of the Board.

Notice to editors: Should any important decisions be taken by the committee, they will be made public by the communications section of the Fed. Department of Finance. This is designed to allow the committee to concentrate on the work in hand.

25. Oktober 2001