"Parliamentary questions

21 July 2021

Priority question for written answer P-003685/2021to the CommissionRule 138

Ignazio Corrao (Verts/ALE) 

Subject: Restriction of competition in the provision of groundhandling services at airports in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

On 5 July 2021, the ENAC (Italy’s national civil aviation authority) issued a note concerning restricted access for suppliers of groundhandling services in national airports, in the categories referred to in Article 4 of Legislative Decree No 18/99, for a period of 12 months which may be extended by a further 12 months.

This measure was introduced following the submission of requests by airport management bodies in Italy (Assaeroporti and Assohandlers) to restrict access, on grounds of problems relating to airport capacity, airport saturation, working conditions of operators, COVID-19 protocols for the protection of passengers and sharp reductions in traffic volumes, which have had a negative economic impact on airport operators and suppliers of ground-handling services.

The restriction of access to the free market for groundhandling services, even though it may, in some cases, be allowed for justified reasons and for certain sectors, is liable to severely restrict competition, undermining the provision of services to users.

In view of this, can the Commission say:

1 whether this measure is not in breach of the competition and liberalisation rules laid down in Directive 96/67/EC;

2 whether this measure might not adversely affect competition in the context of Alitalia’s tender procedure for the handling part?

Last updated: 26 July 2021".