On Monday 2 March, the European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether operating aid granted to Béziers airport, and airport service and marketing agreements between Ryanair and the operators of Béziers airport, are in line with EU State Aid rules.
Since 2011, Béziers airport has been owned by the Syndicat mixte (Pôle aéroportuaire Béziers Cap d'Agde Hérault - Occitanie). The syndicate consists exclusively of local and regional public authorities.
The Commission received a complaint concerning: - the granting of operating aid to the operators of Béziers airport; - airport service and marketing agreements between Ryanair and the operators of Béziers airport. The complainant alleged that the operating aid and the agreements amounted to illegal State Aid in favour of Ryanair and Beziers airport.
With regard to the operators of Béziers airport, the European Commission has decided to open an in-depth investigation as it has concerns that the operating aid is incompatible with the single market.
In particular, the operating aid was granted by several local and public authorities to the operators, it was imputable to the State, involved public resources and granted an undue and selective advantage to the airport operators that potentially affected competition and trade between Member States.
With regard to Ryanair, following a preliminary assessment, the Commission has decided to open an in-depth investigation into: - certain marketing agreements concluded since 2009 between the Syndicat mixte and Ryanair; - airport service agreements concluded since 2007 between the operators of Béziers airport and Ryanair.
The Commission has concerns that the agreements in question may give Ryanair an undue economic advantage vis-à-vis its competitors that might amount to aid in favour of the airline that is incompatible with the internal market. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)