12 May 2023: The European Commission has launched a public consultation [1] on the extension of the transitional period provided in 2014 Aviation Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines [2] for regional airports.

​​The 2014 Aviation Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines provides operating aids to airports with less than 3 million passengers a year for a transitional period that will expire in April 2024. It has the aim of giving regional airports sufficient time to become financially sustainable. 

​The Commission regularly reviews these aid rules to adapt them to the internal market’ situation, and now, due to COVID-19 difficulties, and to additional time required to recover from the crisis, it is currently proposing to extent the transitional period for three more years.  

​​The Commission already addressed a call for evidence during Summer 2022 to the main stakeholders in order to collect opinions over the need of such prolongation. 

​ ​The changes will be provided into the text of the draft communication that is subject to such public consultation from 5 of May to 5 of June 2023.  

​ ​In the meantime, please feel free to provide us with comments on the impact that these criteria could have on your business. ​