The European Union‘s General Court has ruled against Ryanair in their legal challenge concerning Italy’s pandemic-era support for airlines. The court’s decision upholds the legality of the Italian government‘s aid scheme, which was designed to assist airlines during the Covid crisis.
Ryanair had argued that the aid provided an unfair advantage to Italian airlines, distorting competition within the EU. However, the court found that the measures were in line with EU rules and justified given the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic.
This ruling marks another setback for Ryanair’s broader legal campaign against several European state aid measures introduced during the pandemic. The airline has consistently opposed what it views as selective assistance that undermines fair competition.
Italy’s scheme was part of a broader package of state interventions across Europe aimed at stabilizing the aviation sector, which was severely impacted by travel restrictions and a dramatic drop in passenger numbers.
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