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Condor aircraft: Controversial aid funds
Photo: Christian Charisius / dpa
Stage victory for the low-cost airline Ryanair: The company has achieved a success before the court of the EU against state corona aid for the German Condor. The judges overturned the EU Commission's decision to approve the aid. The decision of the Brussels authority was not sufficiently justified, said the court in Luxembourg. In practice, however, this initially has no consequences: The effect of the so-called declaration of nullity was suspended until the EU Commission has passed a new decision. (Case T 665/20).
Germany had registered the aid in favor of Condor in Brussels in April 2020.
This involved two government-secured loans with reduced interest rates in the amount of 550 million euros.
The background was damage caused by the cancellation or postponement of flights due to travel restrictions in the corona pandemic.
The low-cost airline Ryanair sued against the release by the Commission.
The company complains, among other things, of violations of the free movement of services.
The Condor case is one of many in which Ryanair is taking action against state corona aid for competitors.
So far the plaintiff has succeeded in some cases but not in others.
mic / dpa