European Commission approves public support to Frankfurt-Hahn airport
The European Commission has announced that the public support given to Frankfurt-Hahn airport in Germany is in line with EU rules on state aid. In a statement issued today (31 July), EC said that the support given by the German State (Land) of Rhineland-Palatinate “ensures the airport can continue to serve the area’s transport needs until private investment enables its return to viability”.
Located about 120 km west of the city Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt-Hahn airport handled around 2.6m passengers and 72,600 tonnes of cargo in 2016.
The airport is currently loss-making and since 2009 it has been controlled by the Land of Rhineland-Palatinate, which on 1 March 2017 signed a share purchase agreement with the Chinese HNA Group for the sale of its 82.5% of shares in the airport.
The EC added: “The approved measure aims to cover the airport’s expected operating losses over the period 2017-2021 up to a maximum amount of €25.3m. If, however, the operating losses turn out to be lower than that amount, less state aid will be paid out.”
The airport is projected to return to viability in 2023.
