Airports
Europe Set To Stifle State Aid for Airports and Airlines
After handling 3.3 million passengers in 2012, Scotland’s Aberdeen Airport would be restricted to 25 percent of eligible investments under new proposals from the European Commission. (Photo: Eastern Airways)
After handling 3.3 million passengers in 2012, Scotland’s Aberdeen Airport would be restricted to 25 percent of eligible investments under new proposals from the European Commission. (Photo: Eastern Airways)

The European Commission (EC) wants to impose tighter guidelines restricting state aid for airports and airlines in the European Union (EU). In a consultation document launched on July 3, the EC proposed that all publicly funded aid for airports must end after a 10-year transitional period and that it restrict funding in the meantime to only smaller, regional airports. The same guidelines subject to industry consultation through September 25 would also limit start-up aid for airlines.