The European Commission is cooperating "closely and constructively" with Swedish and Danish authorities on the ongoing restructuring of SAS. 

All options are on the table when the Commission urgently draws conclusions from the EU Court's finding that SAS has received illegal state aid. 

This was said by the Danish Margrethe Vestager, the Commission's Vice-President responsible for state aid issues, in a statement on Wednesday evening. 

Earlier on Wednesday, the European Court of Justice invalidated the Commission's 2020 decision to approve Swedish and Danish state aid to SAS totaling 11 billion Swedish kronor. 

In principle, all illegal state aid must be paid back, according to EU competition rules. 

In a parallel case, the European Court of Justice on Wednesday rejected German state aid of 6 billion euros to Lufthansa in 2020. 

”We are aware of the uncertainty that the rulings create for the airlines concerned and the aviation sector at large,” said Margrethe Vestager. 

The commission will urgently study the rulings and their implications, she said. 

”"It is too early to indicate what might be an appropriate approach. At this stage, all options are on the table," said Margrethe Vestager. 

Both the aid to SAS and Lufthansa recapitalized the companies. One difference is that Lufthansa has already paid back its aid. 

Margrethe Vestager emphasized that there is no direct connection between Wednesday's ruling and the ongoing work to restructure SAS. 

In the restructuring, the Commission must approve the state aid provided.

Source: Nyhetsbyrån Direkt-DI.SE