The European General Court (Egc) has defined the economic aid received by the French airline Air France during the pandemic as "illicit financing". This is a ruling that rejects the decision taken by the European Commission, which had given the green light to the financial support given by Paris to the airline during covid-19.

"If there is reason to fear the effects on competition of a cumulation of State aid within the same group, the European Commission is required to examine with particular attention the links between the companies belonging to the latter", on read in the ruling of the European General Court.

According to the judges, the European Commission made an error in defining the beneficiaries of the state aid granted. This is what emerged during two separate legal actions. The conclusion of the officials is that the Air France-KLM Group (first case) and the Dutch airline KLM (second case) may have benefited, even indirectly, from French state aid, violating European competition rules.