Ethiopian Airlines Group is among companies in talks with South Africa’s government about potentially offering support to the country’s insolvent state airline, according to people familiar with the matter.

Africa’s biggest carrier is considering ways to help the bankrupted South African Airways (SAA) fly again after more than five months of dormancy, said individuals who asked not to be identified as the talks are private. Taking a stake in the carrier is one of the options under discussion, they said, though negotiations are ongoing and an agreement may not be reached.

South Africa needs to raise more than 595 million dollars to revive SAA, according to a rescue plan compiled by administrators and backed by both the state and labour groups. Yet Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has said the funds should come from private sources, committing only to helping “mobilise” the required amount. SAA was placed under administrative protection in December before the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis hit.

Much of the funding is likely to come from private financial backers rather than Ethiopian, which would bring more operational expertise to the table, the people said.

Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO of Ethiopian, said talks have taken place in the past but were put on hold. He referred questions about the current situation to Abel Alemu, the airline’s regional manager for southern Africa, who did not immediately comment.

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said Ethiopian was “one of many” interested parties the government is in talks with. A spokeswoman for SAA’s administrators declined to comment.

The Department of Public Enterprises said last month it has received as many as 10 expressions of interest from “private-sector funders, private-equity investors and partners.”

Those relate to the main airline and its subsidiaries, namely low-cost carrier Mango, catering arm Air Chefs and maintenance unit SAA Technical.