Italy has been allowed to grant start-up aid for new air routes from Puglia airports to other national and European destinations. The measure will last three years (2007-2008) and provides for a total of € 63,088,553 to airlines in order to finance new routes. The…
Italy has been allowed to grant start-up aid for new air routes from Puglia airports to other national and European destinations. The measure will last three years (2007-2008) and provides for a total of € 63,088,553 to airlines in order to finance new routes. The main objective of the aid is to improve access to air transport services which are of basic importance for the economic and social development of this region.
The measure approved by the Commission provides for public funding of new services departing from any Puglia airports. The aid is designed to help airlines wishing to establish new routes to/from the airports by meeting part of their start-up costs and route specific marketing aid.
The Commission found that the proposed scheme is in line with the Community rules as:
- the aid is available to all operators in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner
- it is limited to three years for each new route
- the aid is limited to 40% of eligible costs
- the aid has to be paid out on the basis of a business
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
