Press Release: State aid: Commission launches investigation into state loan granted to Czech airlines

The European Commission decided on 24 February 2010 to launch an investigation into a loan granted to ČSA – Czech airlines a. s. by the State-owned entity Osinek a. s. to determine if these actions are compatible with the EU State aid rules. At this stage, the Commission cannot exclude that the loan and its subsequent de-collateralisation - which the airline will use to finance costs linked to the operation of the company - constitutes aid that is incompatible with the internal market. The investigation will give all interested parties the opportunity to submit their comments.