Ryanair's Lawsuits Against Condor's Aid Approval Dismissed, Again
EU Court Rejects Ryanair's Lawsuit Over COVID-19 Aid Provided to Condor Airline - EU Court Dismisses Ryanair's Objection to EU Aid for Condor Airline
Let's dive into the latest round of Ryanair versus the European Union!
After a flurry of legal battles, the Court of Justice of the European Union has once again sided with the European Commission regarding aid for Condor Flugdienst. This decision, handed down in June 2025, follows Ryanair's unsuccessful attempt to annul the Commission's approval of aid measures from 2021.
Remember, this isn't the first time the European Court has addressed this matter. In 2021, it initially overturned the Commission's decision due to Ryanair's initial lawsuit, which focused on loans totaling 550 million euros. However, the court stayed the effects of its ruling to allow the Commission to make a new decision.
In this recent round, Ryanair argued that the Commission should have initiated a formal review procedure given the decision was made after a preliminary examination. Unfortunately for Ryanair, the court didn't see it their way. They found no substantial issues in assessing the aid's compatibility with the internal market.
Furthermore, Ryanair failed to prove that the aid discriminated against other airlines or violated the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services. As you might expect, Ryanair can still escalate the matter to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for further review.
Two other decisions in Luxembourg regarding Condor's aid have already unfolded, both linked to the insolvency of its former parent company Thomas Cook. In May 2022, a lawsuit by Ryanair against a loan of 380 million euros was dismissed. More recently, in May 2024, the court declared the approval of a "restructuring aid" of 321 million euros invalid. Condor has since taken the case to the ECJ, with a ruling yet to be announced as of now.
Buckle up, folks! It seems we've got plenty more legal drama ahead.
- Ryanair
- Condor Flugdienst
- Court of Justice of the European Union
- EU
- EU Commission
- Luxembourg
- Despite multiple attempts, Ryanair's lawsuits against the European Commission's approval of aid for Condor Flugdienst have been dismissed again by the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2025, just as they were in 2021.
- The European Commission's decision to approve aid measures for Condor Flugdienst in 2021 was initially challenged by Ryanair, who argued that it unfairly discriminated against other airlines and violated the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services.
- Similar lawsuits in Luxembourg concerning Condor's aid, linked to the insolvency of its former parent company Thomas Cook, have also been dismissed. In May 2022, a lawsuit against a loan of 380 million euros was dismissed, and in May 2024, the court declared the approval of a "restructuring aid" of 321 million euros invalid.
