Aviation
EU urged not to mess with UN aviation rules
Leading MEPs have asked the European Commission and Council not to seek changes to the UN's global aviation scheme, which is aimed at making the industry carbon neutral. Airlines have requested more leeway to ride out the coronavirus outbreak slump.
Vestager defends EU approach to Lufthansa mega bailout, as carrier agrees terms
EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said on Friday (29 May) that the European Commission was not creating unnecessary obstacles to Lufthansa's €9 billion bailout, shortly before the carrier agreed to accept the Commission's set of conditions.
Lufthansa board baulks at EU bailout terms
The board of German airline Lufthansa refused to accept the conditions of a €9 billion aid package on Wednesday (27 May), citing the European Commission's reported requirement that the carrier give up some airport slots at two of its major hubs.
Danish groups team up to deliver green hydrogen for transport fuel
Renewable energy company Ørsted and Copenhagen Airport are amongst the consortium of businesses aiming to develop a hydrogen and sustainable transport fuel facility in the heart of the Danish capital. EURACTIV's media partner edie.net reports.
Ryanair challenges Lufthansa’s bailout package
Low-cost carrier Ryanair challenged Germany's €9 billion rescue package for Lufthansa on Tuesday (26 May), saying it distorted competition, while the German carrier moves towards finalising the deal next month.
Lufthansa’s €9bn virus bailout gets Berlin’s blessing
German airline Lufthansa sealed a €9 billion aid package on Monday (25 May), as the government agreed to provide loans and stabilisation measures in return for a 20% stake in the carrier, with an option to increase to a blocking minority if needed.
Death of an aviation giant, as A380 feels virus bite
Coronavirus has hastened the demise of the Airbus A380 - the world’s largest airliner - as the aviation industry scrambles to adapt to lower demand for air travel, which has essentially made the double-decker super-jumbo a plane out of time.
EU air safety agency urges masks, social distancing for flights
The EU’s air safety agency EASA is recommending airlines and airports impose measures such as masks and social distancing to limit the risk of coronavirus for passengers. The guidelines, produced jointly with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control...
Germany still hesitating to link stimulus packages with climate targets
France, the Netherlands and Austria want to put environmentally friendly conditions on aid for corporations. In Germany, companies themselves are calling for a climate stimulus package, yet Economy Minister Peter Altmaier is hesitating. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU circles around aircraft middle-seat issue in virus travel plans
European Commission guidelines on resuming virus-disrupted transport links do not address whether airlines should block out the middle-seat of aircraft or not. The aviation industry had insisted that social-distancing measures are not viable on planes.
Brussels Airlines to cut staff, fleet and destinations
Brussels Airline announced a major restructuring of its business on Tuesday (12 May), including job cuts that could affect 1,000 employees, a reduction in fleet size and a smaller network of destinations.
UN aviation scheme to supplement, not replace EU carbon trading
The UN aviation agency's planned scheme for offsetting emissions from international flights will supplement, not replace, the European Union's carbon market, the bloc's transport Commissioner said on Monday (11 May).
Commission to adopt broad summer package on 13 May
Prospects for the coming summer season may get a bit clearer for Europeans next Wednesday (13 May) when the European Commission is expected to adopt a broad package on tourism, transport and borders in the context of the coronavirus crisis, according to an internal document seen by EURACTIV.com.
KLM’s coronavirus bailout still waits for takeoff
The Dutch government’s proposed €2-4 billion aid package for national airline KLM was debated in parliament on Wednesday (6 May), but lawmakers are still divided over what strings - if any - to attach to the bailout.
Economy bigwigs rank airline bailouts last on virus recovery wishlist
More than 200 of the world’s foremost economic experts and officials spelled out their wishes for a post-coronavirus recovery on Tuesday (5 May), ranking airline bailouts last in order of climate-friendliness and long-term economic benefit.
EU aviation regulator prepares to get planes back in skies
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Monday (4 May) started advising airports on how to resume operations properly, after the coronavirus outbreak grounded a majority of flights. Operators will have to check for debris and wild animals, among a slew of other points.
French railways on track to seek virus bailout
France’s state-owned rail company has suffered losses of €2 billion because of the coronavirus outbreak and may need government aid in order to stave off job cuts. An already-agreed bailout for the aviation industry could end up boosting demand.
Ryanair marks Labour Day with 3,000 job cuts
Irish airline Ryanair announced mass job cuts on May Day and salary caps for remaining employees, as the low-cost flyer made a U-turn on its bullish insistence on being able to ride out the virus outbreak unscathed.
Austria’s Greens defend airline bailout climate-strings against EU Commissioner
A state aid request by Austrian Airlines could be an opportunity to make the carrier more sustainable. But climate conditioning bailouts was recently given short shrift by the EU's transport Commissioner, who is "undermining the Green Deal", according to Austria's Greens. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Twelve countries demand passenger rights suspension
Twelve countries have asked the European Commission to suspend the law requiring airlines to offer passengers a full refund for cancelled flights, championing the idea of time-limited vouchers as an alternative.
Europe’s airlines rebel against social-distancing jet set
Coronavirus social-distancing measures will not work on board aircraft, Europe’s airlines say, as the aviation industry and governments consider how to get planes back in the sky. But carriers elsewhere are willing to trial new ideas.
Germany divided over how to bail out flyers
Germany's government granted low-cost airline Condor more than half a billion euros on Monday (27 April) to help it ride out a virus-induced slump in air travel, but the fate of the much bigger flag-carrier Lufthansa is still very much up in the air.
Coronavirus grounds Airbus and Boeing’s lofty plans
Developments in the aerospace industry are falling by the wayside because of the coronavirus outbreak’s huge impact on the sector: US planemaker Boeing has abandoned international joint venture plans while European rival Airbus has nixed a project aimed at producing electric-powered aircraft.
Air France-KLM gets virus bailout, green conditions still pending
Air France-KLM will get a state-backed bailout of around €10 billion in loans and guarantees. But the lack of strict conditions in the aid packages announced by the French and Dutch governments on Friday (24 April) has already stoked criticism.