Air France Gets EU Green Light For 4 Bn Euro Aid

The EU authorised the French government on Tuesday to double its stake in Air France and inject up to four billion euros into the struggling airline whose revenues have been hit by the pandemic-induced drop in passenger traffic.

The agreement, worth $4.7 billion, follows weeks of negotiations with the EU commission, which must ensure that state aid does not give companies an unfair advantage.

Air France posted a 7.1 billion euro ($8.4 billion) loss in 2020 as its business, like that of the rest of the world's airlines, suffered from coronavirus restrictions which all but grounded global air traffic.

In return for its green light, the commission, which is the EU's anti-trust regulator, said Air France would relinquish about 18 slots per day at Orly, Paris' second-largest airport after Charles de Gaulle.

"This gives competing carriers the chance to expand their activities at this airport, ensuring fair prices and increased choice for European consumers," EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said the EU had also allowed the French state to raise its stake in Air France-KLM group to 30 percent, up from the current 14.3 percent.

The Netherlands' flag-carrier KLM, which forms an alliance with Air France, will not benefit from the aid.

Nevertheless, the Dutch government welcomed the approval of additional aid.

In a joint statement Le Maire and his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra said a recapitalisation of KLM by the government of the Netherlands was being looked at.

The recapitalisation of Air France will take place by converting three billion euros in loans it received from the French state last year into perpetual hybrid Air France-KLM bonds that are considered as a form of equity, plus a new issue of shares that is open to existing and new shareholders.

The French state has committed to participating, according to Air France-KLM. China Eastern Airlines, another major shareholder, will also participate. However, Delta Airlines said it could not due to restrictions placed on airlines receiving US government assistance.

Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith said the capital injections "will provide Air France-KLM with greater stability to move forward when recovery starts, as large-scale vaccination progresses around the world and borders reopen."

Another condition that was placed on the rescue package was that the group cannot pay dividends until the French state reduces its stake.

Shares in Air France-KLM fell by around 1.5 percent in Amsterdam and Paris in early morning trading. While they recovered part of that loss, they were underperforming both markets which were trading higher.

Independent aviation analyst John Strickland told AFP that "competitors will not be happy and it is important to see that the proposed slot remedy at Orly has real meaning in terms of facilitating additional competing services."

Rival airline Ryanair, whose criticism of state subsidy for legacy airlines often finds a sympathetic ear at the European Commission, has lambasted previous French aid for Air France, saying it distorts competition.

The Irish-based low-cost carrier has long railed against the support given to national champions, and is often backed by Brussels.

Ryanair -- Europe's biggest airline in terms of ridership -- is also seeking to challenge Germany's massive bailout of Lufthansa in the EU courts as well as schemes in Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal.

The French and Dutch ministers defended their support for their airline group.

"The connectivity of France and the Netherlands is of great importance for both economies and therefore the recovery of the Air France - KLM Group is in the best interest of the two states," they said in their statement.

They also noted that the airlines have restructured to shore up their financial positions and made commitments to accelerate their transition towards environmental sustainability.

"It's not surprising to see further government investment in Air France but the key question is whether it will lead to attempts to impose political direction on the group's management beyond their commercial objectives," said Strickland.