EU Commission releases report on the implementation of the Airport-Charges-Directive

The EU Commission has released a report on the implementation of Directive 2009/12/EC on airport charges. The report evaluates the Directive as to its impact on consultation of airport users by airport managers, transparency and non-discrimination of the charges imposed, the role of the established Independent Supervisory Authorities (ISAs) in each Member State, and the flexibility to impose differentiated services on airport users. The report concludes that the Directive has brought about improvements, yet further steps should be taken, for its implementation varies not only among Member States but also among different airports of the same Member State.

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.