EC positive decision on the prolongation of operating aids for regional airports

10 July 2023: The European Commission has prolonged the possibility of granting operating aid to certain regional airports under the 2014 Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines until 4 April 2027. The transition period was set to expire on 4 April 2024.

The 2014 Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines allow Member States to grant, subject to certain conditions, operating aid to regional airports with less than 3 million passengers a year. The Guidelines also allow Member States to grant operating aid under a more favourable regime (i.e., with higher aid intensities) to airports with up to 700,000 passengers per year, which face more difficulties in becoming cost-covering.

Since the adoption of the Guidelines in 2014, the European aviation sector has faced a major crisis as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the energy crisis that followed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, in view of these exceptional circumstances, the Commission has decided to prolong by 3 years the transition period during which Member States can grant aid to cover the operating costs of regional airports, until 4 April 2027. 

Background: Between May 2023 and June 2023, the Commission carried out a public consultation inviting all interested parties to comment on its draft proposal to prolong the application of the 2014 Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines.
ERA responded to the public consultation at the end of June 2023, welcoming the prolongation which will help to maintain and preserve vital air connectivity, territorial and social cohesion as well as regional development.