Airline aid rules could be relaxed
Belgium: European Commission ready to “turn a blind eye”, says report
The European Commission could be ready to relax rules that restrict state aid for airlines, according to a report in The Guardian.
The newspaper reports that Brussels is “willing to turn a blind eye to all kinds of state aid if the situation deteriorates”, which could even allow airlines to work together to cut route networks without the threat of losing their take-off and landing slots at airports around Europe.
Under normal circumstances EC rules mean airlines can lose their slots if they do not use them, but the Commission said airlines would now be able to cut their flight schedules without worrying that the slots would be made available to other carriers.
Despite the EC’s move, it has made it clear that Governments would not be able to “use the war as an excuse to subsidise failing carriers”. A statement reads: “The commission will not be able to accept measures which will have the effect of creating distortions between member states and airlines. Nor will it accept that the present situation serves as a pretext for delaying necessary restructuring.”
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