Press Release: State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigations into State aid to Romanian air transport sector; approves aid for two regional airports in the UK and in Italy

The European Commission has opened two in-depth investigations under EU State aid rules into a Romanian support scheme for investments in regional airports and to ascertain whether certain rebates and discounts granted by the Timisoara airport to some airlines distort competition. The Commission is particularly concerned that the agreements concluded between Timisoara airport and Wizz Air could procure the latter an unfair economic advantage over its competitors. Separately, the Commission approved investment aid mostly to improve access to an airport in Wales and to promote the use of rail and bus to and from the airport in Italy's Friuli Venezia Giulia region having agreed both subsidies were justified and limited in size.