INHALT

Commission Decision of 28 August 2009 on State aid C 6/09 (ex N 663/08) — Austria Austrian Airlines — Restructuring Plan (notified under document C(2009) 6686) (Text with EEA relevance)

COMMISSION DECISION
of 28 August 2009
on State aid C 6/09 (ex N 663/08) — Austria Austrian Airlines — Restructuring Plan
(notified under document C(2009) 6686)
(Only the German text is authentic)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2010/137/EC)
1.
PROCEEDINGS
2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FACTS
2.1.
Background to the investigation
2.2.
Measures under investigation
2.2.1.
The market price of ÖIAG’s shareholding in Austrian Airlines
2.2.2.
ÖIAG acted as a market economy investor, as any other scenario would have resulted in higher costs
2.2.3.
The restructuring plan submitted for Austrian Airlines
3.
COMMENTS FROM AUSTRIA
3.1.
Conditions imposed on the privatisation
3.1.1.
Preservation of as many jobs as possible
3.1.2.
Keeping the headquarters in Austria
3.1.3.
Ensuring an Austrian core shareholder structure of 25 % plus one share
3.1.4.
Creating a committee to protect Austria’s interests
3.2.
The purchase price corresponds to the market price
3.3.
ÖIAG acted as market economy investor
3.3.1.
Costs relating to the insolvency of Austrian Airlines
3.3.2.
Costs of an orderly winding-up of Austrian Airlines
3.3.3.
Cost to be borne by ÖIAG for restructuring on a stand-alone basis
3.3.4.
Conclusion
3.4.
The restructuring plan for Austrian Airlines
3.4.1.
Austrian Airlines is a company in difficulty
3.4.2.
Cost savings and synergies resulting from the restructuring plan
3.4.3.
The aid amount is reasonable
3.4.4.
Compensatory measures
3.4.5.
Own contribution
4.
COMMENTS FROM THIRD PARTIES
4.1.
Austrian Airlines
4.2.
Lufthansa
4.3.
Ryanair
4.4.
Air France/KLM
4.5.
NIKI
4.6.
Air Berlin
4.7.
Robin Hood Aviation
4.8.
WKO — Die Luftfahrt
4.9.
Wien — konkret
4.10.
Observations received from private individuals
5.
COMMENTS FROM AUSTRIA ON THIRD-PARTY COMMENTS
5.1.
The appropriateness of the process
5.2.
Negative Purchase Price
5.3.
Negative Market Value
5.4.
Alternative scenarios
5.5.
The restructuring plan
5.6.
Replies to other matters raised in the third-party observations
6.
PRESENCE OF AID
6.1.
Legal basis for appraisal of aid
6.1.1.
Evaluation of the sales price of Austrian Airlines
6.1.2.
Application of the ‘market economy investor’ test
6.1.3.
Conclusion
7.
COMPATIBILITY OF THE AID WITH THE COMMON MARKET
7.1.
Compatibility with the common market and possible infringement of internal market rules
7.1.1.
Identity and eligibility of the firm
7.1.2.
Restoration of long-term viability
7.1.3.
Level of own contribution
7.1.4.
Aid must be kept to the minimum
7.1.5.
Compensatory measures
7.1.6.
Additional conditions and commitments
7.1.7.
One time, last time
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3