(Adds statements from Condor, Hesse)
BERLIN/FRANKFURT, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Thomas Cook's
German holiday airline Condor has asked the German government
for a bridging loan, the airline said on Monday, adding it would
continue operating despite its parent company's collapse.
A spokesman for the Berlin government confirmed it was
looking into the application for the bridging loan, without
commenting on the size of the request.
Labour union Verdi said it supported the application.
"Everything possible needs to be done to save Condor and its
jobs," Christine Behle of the Verdi board said in a statement,
adding the firm was profitable and the brand trusted. Condor
employs around 4,500 people.
Separately, the German state of Hesse, where Condor is
based, said it stood ready to support the airline via
guarantees, adding it was examining whether conditions for state
aid applied.
Condor reiterated that it was a profitable enterprise,
adding it expected earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to
rise in the current financial year ending Sept. 30, compared
with about 43 million euros ($47.24 million) previously.
Around 600,000 holidaymakers, including tens of thousands
from Germany, have been stranded around this world by the demise
of Thomas Cook, the world's oldest travel firm.
Governments or insurance companies, depending on individual
countries' laws, will have to step in and bring them home.
A spokesman for the German Aviation Association (BDL) said
that, as Condor was operating as normal, there was no need for a
major repatriation programme in Germany.
"Condor is continuing flight operations as usual, meaning
there is no need for a repatriation mission like that done with
Germania," he said in an e-mailed statement.
Airline Germania collapsed in February, sparking a major
operation to fetch stranded passengers.
The collapse of Thomas Cook helped shares of rival package
holiday and airline companies, as it takes capacity out of the
holiday market.
Germany's TUI gained more than 10%, reaching its
highest level since February.
($1 = 0.9102 euros)
(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel, Christian Kraemer, Ilona
Wissenbach, Klaus Lauer; Writing by Vera Eckert and Christoph
Steitz; Editing by Mark Potter and Kirsten Donovan)