EU Competition Law Developments in the Aviation and Space Sectors from 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025

From 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025, the aviation and space sectors have witnessed significant developments. The European Commission maintained its rigorous scrutiny of airline mergers, approving the Lufthansa/Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) Airways and Korean Air/ Asiana transactions only after imposing remedies, while the International Airlines Group (IAG)/Air Europa merger was ultimately abandoned due to unresolved competition concerns. The period also saw a continued stream of State aid decisions, with the Commission approving aid to many airlines and airports. Several Commission decisions were subject to legal challenge, most notably by Ryanair, resulting in a number of General Court and Court of Justice rulings.