Florence Peretola Airport, compatibility with Articles 107 and 108 TFEU

23.10.2014

Question for written answer E-008339-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Fabio Massimo Castaldo (EFDD) , Isabella Adinolfi (EFDD) , Ignazio Corrao (EFDD) , Laura Agea (EFDD) , Marco Valli (EFDD)

Commission Communication 2014/C 99/03 defines the characteristics of airports’ catchment areas, establishing a minimum distance of 100 km between one airport and the next.

In Italy, the national airports plan, adopted on 30.9.2014 by the Council of Ministers, identifies three strategic airports in the ‘central north’ area, i.e. Bologna, Pisa and Florence, the latter being 70 km from Pisa and 85 km from Bologna.

In April 2014, the chairman of Aeroporti di Firenze S.p.A. sought government funding of EUR 120 million to complete construction work on a new runway at Florence airport (estimated cost EUR 245 million) and, in the so-called ‘Unblocking Italy’ decree, the Italian Government allocated EUR 50 million as co-funding for the construction of the additional runway.

In June 2014, the Corporación America group acquired a majority stake in SAT, the company managing the Pisa airports, with the agreement of the Tuscany region which joined the takeover bid.

On 16 July 2014, the Tuscany Regional Council approved the territorial master plan including a new runway for Florence airport.

In the light of the above, can the Commission say whether the operations described above are compatible with Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU?