Policy field
Competition: State aid
Target group
This consultation will be open to the general public.
National authorities, airports, airlines and related associations are in particular welcome to contribute.
Period of consultation
From 11.05.2026 until 11.06.2026
Objective of the consultation
The Commission is publishing for consultation the draft Guidelines on State aid to the air transport sector, which will replace the 2014 Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines.
The aviation industry has evolved significantly since 2014, and the revised guidelines aim to reflect the continued growth, ambitious decarbonisation targets and challenges (such as COVID-19 and the energy crisis), all of which call for a modernised approach to State aid in the air transport sector. The draft revised Guidelines will be complemented by other rules, including the new General Block Exemption Regulation.
The proposed draft follows the conclusions of the 2020 Fitness Check, which identified the need to update the framework in light of market developments, reliance on public funding by regional airports, and evolving EU policy priorities, notably the European Green Deal. It also takes into account findings of a dedicated external study as well as feedback received during the Call for Evidence in August 2024 and a public consultation, in December 2024.
How to submit your contribution
We welcome contributions from citizens, organisations and public authorities.
- If you are answering this consultation as a citizen, please click COMP-AVIATION-REVISION
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (subject: HT.2635_Reply_from_a_citizen) (here) to submit your contribution. - If you are answering this consultation on behalf of an organisation, please click COMP-AVIATION-REVISIONec [dot] europa [dot] eu (subject: HT.2635_Reply_from_an_organisation) (here) to submit your contribution.
- If you are answering this consultation on behalf of a public authority, please click COMP-AVIATION-REVISIONec [dot] europa [dot] eu (subject: HT.2635_Reply_from_a_public_authority) (here) to submit your contribution.
Received contributions will be published on this webpage. Submissions that are clearly marked "confidential" will be treated as such and not published. In that case please also provide a non-confidential version of your reply. It is important to read the privacy statement attached to this consultation for information on how your personal data and contribution will be dealt with.
When providing us with the documents requested above, please ensure that redactions made by you properly cover all confidential information and cannot be reversed.
Please note that we cannot guarantee to take account of replies received after the deadline.
We would appreciate receiving documents in an electronic format, and preferably in English and as attachments submitted in “.docx” or “.pdf” format, otherwise they will not be published.
Consultation documents
Reference documents
- Communication from the Commission - 2014 Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines
- Communication from the Commission concerning the prolongation of the specific regime for operating aid for airports with up to 700 000 passengers per annum provided for in the Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines
- Communication from the Commission extending the transitional period provided for in the Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines concerning regional airports 2023/C 244/01
- Fitness Check
- Call for evidence
- Public consultation
- External study
Contact details
Responsible service:
Directorate-General for Competition – Unit F.2
Please always indicate the reference number in your correspondence: HT. 2635
e-mail: COMP-AVIATION-REVISIONec [dot] europa [dot] eu (COMP-AVIATION-REVISION[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
Postal address:
European Commission
Directorate-General for Competition
Ref.: HT.2635
1049 Bruxelles /Brussel
Belgique /België
View the contributions
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