26/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a judgment delivered on 25 June, the Court of First Instance ruled that the state aid granted to Greek airline Olympiaki Aeroporia Ypiresies (OAY) was compatible with European law (case T-268/06). This ruling inter alia authorises compensation for losses incurred several days after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. It overturns the Commission decision that the cancellation of flights on 15-16 September 2001, and the costs of additional repatriation flights at the end of that month could not be directly attributed to the “extraordinary events” of 11 September (C (2006) 1580 final). The Court, unlike the Commission in its decision, felt that there was a causal link between the terrorist attacks and the costs in question, despite their being a few days apart. Compensation though state aid is, then, in line with the Commission communication on the subject (COM (2001) 574 final). (C.D./transl.rt)