The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved a scheme that will provide direct grants to eligible airport operators in Norway for the remainder of 2021.

The scheme will compensate airport operators for losses incurred as a consequence of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and provide assistance to cover their fixed costs. The goal is to ensure that key services, tourism and business travel continue running, and to support Norway's economy in general, airports being critical infrastructure.

Beneficiaries of the scheme are non-state-owned airport operators that have not received aid in other ways in 2021, and the scheme will therefore only cover a few airports. Operators will need to demonstrate a loss in turnover of at least 30% compared to the same period in 2019.

The estimated budget for the scheme is NOK 212.5 million (EUR 21m). The aid will be provided by the Ministry of Transport and will be given in the form of direct grants. The scheme will cover uncovered fixed costs and losses in turnover during the period 1 January 2021 until 31 December 2021.

The scheme was approved in line with the European Commission's Temporary Framework for state aid measures to support the economy during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

You can read ESA's decision here.

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EFTA Surveillance Authority published this content on 18 June 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 18 June 2021 14:30:00 UTC.