(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MAY 30 - The European Commission has
opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether financial
arrangements between public authorities and the airport of
Beauvais (France), as well as rebates and marketing agreements
concluded between this airport and its customer airlines, are in
line with EU state aid rules.
Beauvais (BVA) is a large regional airport in Oise (Picardie region), 75 km north of Paris, with a total traffic of 3,677,794 passengers in 2011. The airport is owned by the Syndicat Mixte de l'Aeroport de Beauvais Tille', and was operated by the local Chamber of Commerce (CoC) until May 2008. The operation of the airport was then awarded to SAGEB, whose main shareholder is the CoC, for 15 years. From 2000 to 2008, the CoC benefited from public support measures for its activity as operator of Beauvais airport, including subsidies of over 10 million euros for airport infrastructure investment. As airport operator, SAGEB has also been granted public subsidies of 14.5 million euros for further infrastructure improvements. At this stage, the Commission has doubts whether these measures, granted by several public entities comply with the EU guidelines on state aid in the aviation sector. Finally, the Commission will examine whether agreements between the airport operators and their customer airlines, such as marketing support contracts and discounts on airport and handling charges, have been carried out at market conditions. (ANSAmed)
Beauvais (BVA) is a large regional airport in Oise (Picardie region), 75 km north of Paris, with a total traffic of 3,677,794 passengers in 2011. The airport is owned by the Syndicat Mixte de l'Aeroport de Beauvais Tille', and was operated by the local Chamber of Commerce (CoC) until May 2008. The operation of the airport was then awarded to SAGEB, whose main shareholder is the CoC, for 15 years. From 2000 to 2008, the CoC benefited from public support measures for its activity as operator of Beauvais airport, including subsidies of over 10 million euros for airport infrastructure investment. As airport operator, SAGEB has also been granted public subsidies of 14.5 million euros for further infrastructure improvements. At this stage, the Commission has doubts whether these measures, granted by several public entities comply with the EU guidelines on state aid in the aviation sector. Finally, the Commission will examine whether agreements between the airport operators and their customer airlines, such as marketing support contracts and discounts on airport and handling charges, have been carried out at market conditions. (ANSAmed)
