The European Commission following complaints from nine European airlines and considers that the Italian government's plan to distribute airline traffic across Milan's two airports - the existing airport Linate and the new Malpensa airport due to open formally on October 25th - is discriminatory and therefore incompatible with European law. The airlines complained that the criteria that the Italian government has used to determine which airlines should continue to fly from Linate and which must move to Malpensa effectively give the Italian carrier Alitalia a competitive advantage over other European airlines. However, the Commission has decided to delay the adoption of its decision until 16th September, given that the Italian government late last night indicated that it was working to change the distribution system. Neil Kinnock, the Commissioner responsible for Transport and Transport policy, said: "It is my duty to uphold European law and, in this case, to protect the competitive interests of European air carriers and their passengers. Clearly, in a single aviation market, operating conditions and access to air markets must be equitable and it is important that the Commission decision should leave no legal uncertainty so that everyone can plan properly for the winter season. However, I very much hope that revised rules, compatible with European Union's law, can be agreed with the Italian authorities in the coming days in which case the Commission would not have to take a negative decision on 16th September."

Source:
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
09 / 09 / 98