Press Release: Air Transport: Commission sends a formal request to Germany to ensure fair access for service providers to ground handling markets at major airports:

The European Commission sent on 18 March 2010 a formal request to the German authorities (reasoned opinion) for failing to ensure fair access for services providers to ground handling markets at major airports (14 major airports in the case of Germany), as required under EU Directive 96/67/EC. Under this Directive, any service provider should be able to compete to provide ground handling services such as baggage handling, catering services, fuel and oil handling or passenger transport. This is the second stage in the infringement process. Germany is required to comply with the request within two months, failing which the case may go before the European Court of Justice.