State aid: Commission approves €24 million Danish schemes to support airlines and airports affected by coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has approved two Danish schemes, with an overall budget of €24 million (approximately DKK 180 million), to support airlines and airports affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The schemes were approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The first scheme, with a budget of €20 million (approximately DKK 150 million), will be open to all airlines serving scheduled passenger flights that land in/take off from Danish airports. The second scheme, with a budget of €4 million (approximately DKK 30 million), will be open to all Danish airports serving scheduled passenger flights within and to/from Denmark. Under both schemes, the support will take the form of direct grants to cover a percentage of certain airport charges between 1 August 2020 and December 2020. The aim of the schemes is to help airlines and airports restore their level of operations in Denmark to the situation before the coronavirus outbreak, thus contributing to restoring air traffic and air connectivity within Denmark and with other international destinations. The measure is expected to benefit approximately 150 airlines and the 13 airports in Denmark. The Commission found that the Danish schemes are in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, the aid will not exceed €800,000 per company as provided by the Temporary Framework and will be granted before 31 December 2020. The Commission concluded that the aid is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules. More information on the Temporary Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.58157 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
