The first half of 2013 has seen quite a substantial increase in competition law activity in the aviation sector. This is partly the result of quite a bit of merger activity (six cases with two phase II investigations ongoing) but there has also been considerable activity on the State aid front with the European Commission (the 'Commission') opening five new State aid investigations and announcing a consultation on proposals for new State aid guidelines for aid to airports, start-up routes and airlines.
This article first summarizes the Commission's proposals for new State aid guidelines, reviews the ongoing and closed investigations, considers the mergers that have been notified to the Commission or other regulators, reviews relevant judgments of the European Courts (the General Court and the Court of Justice),1 as well as those judgments that are still pending and concludes with a review of some relevant State Aid decisions.
Air and Space Law