European airlines turn to bailouts and soft loans during Covid pandemic

Apart from direct state aid in some cases, airlines, including Aer Lingus, have also tapped millions of euro in public wage-subsidy schemes and in government soft loans.   

Decades after privatisations and deregulation from government control, many of Europe’s largest airlines are being forced back into the arms of states by the pandemic.

With air travel still showing no signs of recovery, the airlines may have to contend with their saviours as powerful shareholders for some time to come.