Killing two birds with one stone: EU’s efforts to tighten aviation relations with Iran

The EU is seeking to tighten relations with Iran, to achieve multiple benefits: increase safety, boost European aircraft exports and reduce the leverage of Gulf rivals.

EU competition law: Recent developments in aviation

The General Court of the EU dismissed the annulment actions that Niki Luftfahrt GmbH, an Austrian air carrier had brought against the European Commission (EC) decisions that approved the takeover of the Austrian legacy carrier Austrian Airlines by the German carrier Lufthansa.

A few days later, the EC accepted the commitments offered by SkyTeam members Air France/KLM, Alitalia and Delta on three transatlantic routes.

In addition and in a more general framework, the EC initiated an infringement procedure on the application of the German Minimum Wage law to the transport sector.

Cyprus Airways ceases operations after an order to repay state aid - but is it over?

Last week, Cyprus Airways, the island’s national carrier, was shut down after a European Commission decision ordered the company to repay more than 65 million euros it received in illegal state aid.   On Wednesday, the state’s Council of Ministers approved a proposal tabled by the Ministry of Finance, to proceed with acquiring the services of advisors in order to set up the new airline, which will use the logo and name of Cyprus Airways.

European Commission issues new guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines

The European Commission issued new guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines on 20 February 2014, to facilitate the application of Art. 107 Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) in aviation. The aim of the new rules is to ensure the efficiency of State support, while preventing the distortion of competition through overcapacity and duplication of infrastructure. There are four main points in the guidelines.