Brussels, 21/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised aid for the restructuring of the German airline company LTU (Lufttransport Unternehmen GmbH), after having concluded that such aid met the criteria set in the guidelines applicable to air transport and to the general guidelines concerning aid for rescue and restructuring. Aid will allow LTU to contribute to an overall restructuring programme, which should ensure that the company returns to profitability in 2004. Funds totalling EUR 100 million, guaranteed to the extent of 80% by North Rhine-Westphalia, can now be released. They must be totally repaid by 2009 at the latest. LTU's situation had become critical since the announcement of the bankruptcy of its main shareholder, Swissair, early October 2001, against the backdrop of the consequences of the terrorist attacks in September that year.