HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc222-3W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with European colleagues regarding Europe-wide aid to airlines; and which European Governments have granted aid to their flag carriers in the last 12 months. [32531]

Mr. Jamieson

Guidelines issued by the European Commission on emergency state aid for the European aviation industry following the events of 11 September were discussed by Community Transport Ministers at the Transport Councils on 16 October and 7 December 2001.

A one-month bridging loan of euro 125 million to Sabena from the Belgian Government was approved by the European Commission as rescue aid on 17 October 2001. The French Government have recently notified the Commission that they propose to grant some euro 55 million in emergency aid to French airlines affected by 11 September. In Switzerland a complex financial package was put together in the wake of the collapse of Swissair, which included some euro 650 million of direct aid from the Swiss federal and Canton Governments. We do not have details of aid provided by other European countries outside the European Community.