The European Commission has announced that it has approved Dutch and French support measures totalling €10.4 billion for the Air France-KLM group.
More specifically, this aid consists of: - a French aid measure including a €4 billion guarantee on bank loans, combined with a €3 billion loan; - a Dutch aid measure including a €2.4 billion guarantee on bank loans, combined with a €1 billion loan.
This aid was initially approved by the Commission on 4 May 2020 and 13 July 2020 under the temporary framework for state aid, as amended, to support businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, known as the ‘COVID’ Temporary Framework.
However, the General Court of the European Union annulled these approval decisions on 20 December 2023 (see EUROPE 13318/24) and 7 February 2024.
The Commission has appealed against both General Court judgments.
The European Commission indicated that after reassessing the measures, considering the Air France-KLM group as the beneficiary of the French and Dutch measures, it had come to the conclusion that these measures were compatible with the ‘COVID’ Temporary Framework and with the provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
The Commission concluded that the measures had helped businesses manage the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic in France and the Netherlands. In addition, the Commission considered that the measures were necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of these Member States. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)