Alitalia, green light to refreshments for 39.7 million euros

The European Commission has approved the aid granted by Italy to Alitalia for 39.7 million euros, to compensate the company for the damage suffered by the Covid-19 pandemic from 1 March to 30 April 2021. The restrictions adopted both in Italy and in other countries to limit the spread of the second and third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, explains the Commission, have had a heavy impact on Alitalia’s activities. As a result, the company suffered significant operating losses, at least until April 30, 2021. On June 25, Italy notified the Commission of another aid measure intended to compensate Alitalia for further damage suffered on certain routes from 1 March to 30 April 2021, due to the emergency measures necessary to limit the spread of the virus. The support will be provided in the form of a direct grant of € 39.7 million, which corresponds to the estimated damage suffered directly by the airline during that period, according to a route-by-route analysis of eligible routes. coronavirus represents an exceptional event, being an extraordinary and unpredictable phenomenon with significant economic repercussions. Consequently, the exceptional actions taken by the Member State to compensate for the damage related to the epidemic are justified.The Commission found that the Italian measure will compensate for the damage suffered by Alitalia directly related to the coronavirus pandemic, which is an exceptional event. The damage is calculated as the loss of profitability on certain routes due to travel restrictions and other containment measures taken during the period in question. It also considered that the measure is proportionate, as the quantitative analysis on a route-by-route basis presented by Italy adequately identifies the damage attributable to the containment measures and, therefore, the compensation does not go beyond what is strictly necessary to compensate for the damage on those routes. . On this basis, the Commission concluded that the supplementary measure adopted by Italy to compensate for damages complies with EU state aid rules.