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Ryanair welcomes EU Court rulings on Air France-KLM and TAP state aid
Ryanair is feeling somewhat vindicated in its opposition to state aid to Europe’s flag carriers.
It welcomed the EU General Court’s rulings that state aid measures favouring Air France-KLM and TAP were in breach of EU law.
While the Covid-19 crisis has caused damage to all airlines that contribute to the economies governments of Portugal and the Netherlands decided to support only their national flag carriers, Ryanair says.
Ryanair appealed the European Commission’s approvals of the state subsidies to the EU General Court in 2020.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: "One of the EU’s greatest achievements is the creation of a single market for air transport. The European Commission’s approvals of State aid to Air France-KLM and TAP went against the fundamental principles of EU law."
Ryanair says over €30 billion in state aid has been given to EU flag carriers.
Ryanair claims state bailouts could distort a competitive market for years to come.
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