Air France airport slots emerge as flashpoint in state aid talks

France and the Netherlands appear to be readying for a clash with the EC over a fresh aid package to debt-laden carrier Air France-KLM. Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra warned lawmakers on Wednesday he couldn’t rule out the possibility that the airline will be asked by European regulators to give up airport slots in exchange for approval for more state aid. His comments to a parliamentary committee followed stronger wording from his French counterpart, Bruno Le Maire, who suggested the country would oppose any requirement for Air France to relinquish slots at Paris-Orly airport. “The point is not to weaken Air France, it’s to strengthen Air France,” Le Maire told France Info TV Tuesday. “When we took a decision to support Air France at the beginning, it’s not to give it up in the end.” A tussle over landing rights at Orly would come amid crucial talks between France and the Netherlands, which together hold a combined 28% of the company, and are considering more financial help to the airline. The states have already provided a 10.4 billion-euro lifeline in the form of direct loans and guarantees to keep the carrier afloat during the pandemic. Air France-KLM has said it needs fresh equity.<br/>