COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2015/1344
of 1 October 2014
on State aid case SA.18857 (2012/C, ex 2011/NN) — Alleged aid to Västerås Airport and Ryanair Ltd
(notified under document C(2014) 6832)
(Only the Swedish text is authentic)
(Text with EEA relevance)
1.
PROCEDURE
2.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVESTIGATION AND CONTEXT OF THE MEASURES
2.1. VÄSTERÅS AIRPORT
Year |
Number of landings |
Number of passengers |
Airlines active at the airport |
2000 |
12 450 |
113 626 |
European Executive Express, SAS and Direktflyg |
2001 |
18 708 |
185 302 |
European Executive Express, SAS, Direktflyg and Ryanair |
2002 |
19 146 |
190 038 |
European Executive Express, SAS (terminated in October), Direktflyg, Ryanair and Skyways |
2003 |
16 500 |
197 584 |
European Executive Express (terminated in October), Direktflyg, Skyways and Ryanair |
2004 |
17 599 |
242 376 |
SAS (limited activities started in November), Direktflyg (limited activities since May), Skyways (terminated in July) and Ryanair |
2005 |
14 123 |
221 422 |
SAS (limited activities), Direktflyg (limited activities terminated in March) and Ryanair |
2006 |
13 097 |
182 700 |
SAS (limited activities) and Ryanair(8) |
2007 |
13 994 |
178 795 |
SAS (terminated in March) and Ryanair |
2008 |
11 973 |
186 612 |
Ryanair and Wizzair (started in May) |
2009 |
15 193 |
174 495 |
Ryanair and Wizzair (terminated in October) |
2010 |
14 420 |
150 793 |
Ryanair and City airlines (started in April, terminated in May) |
Sources: Transportstyrelsen and information provided by the Swedish authorities (http://www.transportstyrelsen.se/sv/luftfart/Statistik/Flygplatsstatistik-/). |
2.2. VFAB
Year |
Revenues |
Other operating support |
EBITDA excl. operating support |
EBIT excl. operating support |
Net profit/loss excl. operating support |
1999(10) |
25,6 |
2,5 |
– 4,9 |
– 6,4 |
– 2,5 |
2000 |
25,1 |
2,3 |
– 8,5 |
– 11,2 |
– 12,7 |
2001 |
30,8 |
1,5 |
– 8,1 |
– 11,7 |
– 13,4 |
2002 |
30,9 |
1,1 |
– 7,0 |
–11,4 |
– 16,4 |
2003 |
26,2 |
1,0 |
– 15,8 |
– 18,6 |
– 21,2 |
2004 |
23,9 |
1,3 |
– 15,3 |
– 16,6 |
– 16,6 |
2005 |
24,0 |
1,1 |
– 17,9 |
– 19,1 |
– 19,2 |
2006 |
19,5 |
1,1 |
– 23,3 |
– 24,5 |
– 24,6 |
2007 |
20,9 |
— |
– 22,0 |
– 23,1 |
– 22,9 |
2008 |
23,1 |
0,7 |
– 22,3 |
– 23,3 |
– 23,2 |
2009 |
22,9 |
1,6 |
– 24,6 |
– 25,8 |
– 25,8 |
2010 |
21,9 |
1,8 |
– 23,6 |
– 24,9 |
– 24,8 |
TOTAL |
15,8 |
|
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Source: Annual Reports of VFAB. |
Year |
Amount (million SEK) |
2003 |
38,5 |
2005 |
8 |
2006 |
65,5 |
2008 |
47 |
2010 |
35 |
TOTAL |
194 |
Source: Annual Reports of VFAB. |
2.3. AIRPORT CHARGE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN VFAB AND RYANAIR
2.3.1.
Agreement of 5 April 2001 (‘the 2001 Agreement’)
Period |
Amount (SEK) |
Max. amount per departing aircraft (SEK) |
Until 31.3.2002 |
[…] |
[…] |
1.4.2002-31.3.2006 |
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[…] |
1.4.2006-31.3.2011 |
[…] |
[…] |
2.3.2.
Addendum dated 1 February 2003 to the 2001 Agreement (‘the 2003 Agreement’)
Number of daily rotations(15) |
1 rotation |
2 rotations |
3 rotations |
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Period |
Amount (SEK) |
Limited to max. per departing aircraft |
Amount (SEK) |
Limited to max. per departing aircraft |
Amount (SEK) |
Limited to max. per departing aircraft |
Until 31.3.2002 |
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1.4.2002 to 31.3.2006 |
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1.4.2006 to 31.3.2009 |
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1.4.2009 to 31.3.2011 |
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Number of daily rotations |
4 rotations |
5 rotations |
6 rotations |
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Until 31.3.2002 |
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1.4.2002 to 31.3.2006 |
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1.4.2006 to 31.3.2009 |
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1.4.2009 to 31.3.2011 |
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2.3.3.
Agreement of 31 January 2005 (‘the 2005 Agreement’)
2.4. THE AGREEMENTS WITH RYANAIR AND AMS REGARDING MARKETING SUPPORT AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMMES
2.5. THE COMPLAINT
3.
GROUNDS FOR INITIATING THE FORMAL INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE AND THE INVESTIGATION OF THE COMMISSION
3.1. MEASURE 1: SHAREHOLDERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO VFAB BETWEEN 2003 AND 2010
3.2. MEASURE 2: RENT FOR THE AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PAID BY VFAB BETWEEN 2003 AND 2010
3.3. MEASURE 3: THE OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTED TO VFAB AND OTHER AIRPORTS UNDER THE LOCAL AIRPORT SCHEME BETWEEN 2001 AND 2010.
3.4. MEASURE 4: THE AIRPORT CHARGES APPLIED BY VFAB TO RYANAIR BETWEEN 2001 AND 2010
3.5. MEASURE 5: MARKETING SUPPORT GRANTED BY VFAB TO RYANAIR AND AMS IN 2001, 2008 AND 2010
4.
COMMENTS FROM SWEDEN
4.1. MEASURE 1: SHAREHOLDERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO VFAB BETWEEN 2003 AND 2010
4.2. MEASURE 2: RENT FOR THE AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PAID BY VFAB BETWEEN 2003 AND 2010
4.3. MEASURE 3: THE OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTED TO VFAB AND OTHER AIRPORTS UNDER THE LOCAL AIRPORT SCHEME IN PERIOD 2001 TO 2010.
5.
COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES
5.1. COMMENTS FROM VFAB
5.1.1.
Measure 1: Shareholders' contributions to VFAB between 2003 and 2010
5.1.2.
Measure 2: Rent for the airport infrastructure paid by VFAB between 2003 and 2010
5.1.3.
Measures 4 and 5: Airport charges applicable to Ryanair from 2001 to 2010 and marketing support granted to Ryanair and AMS in 2001, 2008 and 2010
5.2. COMMENTS FROM RYANAIR
5.2.1.
Measure 4: Airport charges applicable to Ryanair from 2001 to 2010
5.2.2.
Marketing support granted by VFAB to Ryanair/AMS in 2001, 2008 and 2010
5.3. COMMENTS FROM AIRPORT MARKETING SERVICES (AMS)
6.
COMMENTS FROM SWEDEN ON THIRD PARTY COMMENTS
7.
ASSESSMENT
7.1. MEASURE 1: SHAREHOLDERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO VFAB BETWEEN 2003 AND 2010
7.1.1.
Existence of aid
7.1.1.1.
Notion of undertaking (different margins)
7.1.1.2.
State resources and imputability to the state
7.1.1.3.
Economic advantage
7.1.1.4.
Selectivity
7.1.1.5.
Distortion of competition and effect on trade
7.1.1.6.
Conclusion
7.1.1.7.
Lawfulness of the aid
7.1.2.
Compatibility
7.1.2.1.
The applicability of the 2014 and 2005 Aviation Guidelines
7.1.2.2.
Distinction between investment and operating aid
7.1.2.3.
Compatibility of operating aid pursuant to the 2014 Aviation Guidelines
7.1.2.4.
Compatibility assessment of Measure 1
7.2. MEASURE 2: THE ALLEGED REDUCED RENT PAID BY VFAB TO VÄSTERÅS FLYGFASTIGHETER AB FOR USE OF THE AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
7.3. MEASURE 3: THE OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTED UNDER THE LOCAL AIRPORT SCHEME IN THE PERIOD 2001 TO 2010
7.3.1.
Existence of aid
7.3.2.
Lawfulness of the aid
7.3.3.
Compatibility of the aid
7.3.3.1.
Contribution to a well-defined objective of common interest
7.3.3.2.
Need for state intervention.
7.3.3.3.
Appropriateness (point 120 of the Guidelines)
7.3.3.4.
Incentive effect (point 124 of the Guidelines)
7.3.3.5.
Proportionality (point 125 of the Guidelines)
7.3.3.6.
Avoidance of undue distortions of competition (points 131 of the Guidelines)
7.3.4.
Conclusion
7.4. ALLEGED AID TO RYANAIR AND AMS
7.4.1.
Existence of aid
7.4.1.1.
Economic Activity and notion of undertaking
7.4.1.2.
State resources and imputability to the State
7.4.1.3.
State resources
7.4.1.4.
Imputability
7.4.1.5.
Economic Advantage
7.4.1.6.
Assessment of Incremental Costs and Revenues
Year |
Total (Aviation and non-aviation) revenue per airline |
Operating costs dedicated to specific airlines(46) |
Incremental profitability |
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Airline A SAS |
Airline B Ryanair |
Airline C Other |
Airline A SAS |
Airline B Ryanair |
Airline C Other |
Ryanair |
All airlines |
2001 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2004 |
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2005 |
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2006 |
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2007 |
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2008 |
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2009 |
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2010 |
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