The EU Commission wants Air France-KLM to return at least 24 slots at Paris-Orly Airport if it accepts additional state aid, so that these can be re-allocated to competitors. Unsurprisingly: Ryanair has already expressed interest in these.

The competition watchdogs fear that further state aid for Air France-KLM could lead to market distortions. Therefore, the group should give up take-off and landing rights at the second largest airport in the French capital. But the company doesn't want that and they certainly don't want to do without the money.

The governments of the Netherlands and France want to take Air France-KLM under the wings with a loan of five billion euros. The group has already received well over 10 billion euros. The usually well-informed daily La Tribune writes that the EU Commission will only give the green light if the said 24 slots are given in Orly.

"We could not understand it, to be exposed to drastic measures that weaken our position in Paris," explains CEO Ben Smith to L'Express. He also said that he feared that the take-off and landing rights could end up with Ryanair.

However, slot requirements are not an isolated case, as Lufthansa had to approve 24 pairs each in Frankfurt and Munich. Alitalia is ordered to also surrender in Rome and Linate, whereby the commission goes even further and demands that the successor Ita applies again for the take-off and landing rights. No surprise: Ryanair squinted also at the two Italian airports on the slots currently held by Alitalia.