The European Union's General Court has dismissed appeals by Ryanair against an Italian state aid scheme designed to support airlines during the Covid pandemic, ruling the measures were compliant with EU law.
The court found that requiring airlines to hold an Italian operating licence did not violate non-discrimination principles, as Ryanair failed to demonstrate that the condition had restrictive effects beyond those inherent to state aid. Italy's €130 million compensation fund, later increased by €100 million, had been approved by the European Commission.
The General Court had initially struck down the Commission's approval in 2023 before the Court of Justice referred the matter back in 2025. The ruling contrasts with Ryanair's recent success in a similar case against German state aid to Lufthansa in April.