Air France and KLM have filed appeals with the Court of Justice of the European Union challenging two decisions by the European General Court regarding state aid the French carrier received during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The appeals were in response to a 2020 Commission decision and a 2021 Commission decision approving French state aid measures, which were subsequently annulled by the General Court in December 2023.
The cases against the Commission’s decisions were brought by Ryanair and its subsidiary Malta Air, who viewed the aid given to flag carriers by some EU countries as unfair competition.
Despite receiving significant aid totalling €11bn, Air France-KLM and Air France have fully refunded all aid received in accordance with the regulations. The General Court also annulled the Commission’s approval of Dutch state aid to KLM worth €3.4bn for a second time following a challenge from Ryanair.
