Brussels, 09/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 9 January, the European Commission ordered that Cyprus recover state aid totalling €102 million, including capital of €31.3 million, granted in 2012 to Cypriot airline Cyprus Airways. Companies may only be granted restructuring aid once every ten years, but the Commission explains that Cyprus has not provided any evidence that Cyprus Airways faced exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances that would justify an exemption being made to the rule. On 8 January, Cypriot transport minister Marios Demetriades said that if the airline had to repay the aid, it would probably go out of business. Cyprus Airways is 93.67 % state-owned. It has been in financial difficulties since 2009. The government said it was looking at ways of lessening the impact on the tourist industry of the airline possibly going out of business. (EL)