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EU General Court Judgment in several cases concerning COVID-19 state aid to airlines
20 December 2023
Wednesday 20th December
Judgment in Cases T-216/21 Ryanair and Malta Air v Commission (Air France; COVID-19) and T-494/21 Ryanair and Malta Air v Commission (Air France-KLM and Air France; COVID-19)
(State aid)
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, France notified the European Commission of an individual aid measure in favour of Air France. This state aid would comprise first of a 90% State guarantee on a loan of up to €4 billion – which would be granted by a consortium of banks. In addition to this, there would be a State shareholder loan of up to €3 billion.
In March 2021, France also notified the Commission of individual aid in the form of a recapitalization of Air France and the Air France-KLM holding company in the sum of
€4 billion. This measure consisted of France’s participation in a planned capital increase of up to €1 billion, as well as the conversion of the shareholder loan into a hybrid instrument.
In both cases, the Commission decided not to raise any objections, taking the view that the measures constituted aid which is compatible with the internal market.
Ryanair and Malta Air contest these decisions, arguing in substance that the measures in question are contrary to EU law.
Urteile des Gerichts in den Rechtssachen T‑216/21 Ryanair und Malta Air / Kommission (Air France; COVID-19) und T‑494/21 Ryanair und Malta Air / Kommission (Air France-KLM und Air France ; COVID-19)
Staatliche Beihilfen – COVID-19-Pandemie
Am 4. Mai 2020 genehmigte die Kommission eine von Frankreich geplante Liquiditätssoforthilfe von 7 Mrd. Euro für Air France. Damit sollte die Fluglinie angesichts der Auswirkungen de COVID-19-Pandemie unterstützt werden (siehe Pressemitteilung der Kommission IP/20/796).
Am 5. April 2021 genehmigte die Kommission weitere staatlichen Beihilfen Frankreichs für Air France im Umfang von bis zu 4 Mrd. Euro, mit denen das Eigenkapital von Air France gestärkt und die Fluglinie bei der Bewältigung der finanziellen Schwierigkeiten infolge der COVID-19-Pandemie unterstützt werden sollte (siehe Pressemitteilung der Kommission IP/21/1581).
Ryanair und Malta Air haben beide Genehmigungsbeschlüsse vor dem Gericht der EU angefochten, das heute seine Urteile verkündet.
Details
- Date:
- 20 December 2023
- Event Categories:
- EU General Court, EVENT, IEU AGENDA
- Event Tags:
- Air France, Air France-KLM, T-216/21 Ryanair and Malta Air, T-494/21 Ryanair and Malta Air
Venue
- EU General Court
-
Palais de la Cour de Justice, Boulevard Konrad Adenauer, Kirchberg
Luxembourg, 2925 Luxembourg + Google Map - Phone
- (00352) 43 03-1
- View Venue Website
Organizer
- EU General Court
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