Press Release: State aid: Commission opens investigation into financial support to DHL and Leipzig/Halle airport

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under the EC Treaty's state aid rules into possible aid granted by the German Land of Saxony to DHL and Leipzig/Halle airport, through the financing of the new southern runway and financial guarantees endorsed by Saxony. The Commission has doubts that the two operations have been carried out on terms that would be acceptable to a market investor. In particular, the Commission wants to ensure that DHL does not receive additional state aid over and above the regional investment aid already approved by the Commission for the new DHL hub at Leipzig-Halle Airport. The risk is that further aid would distort competition in the European express parcel market. The opening of an investigation procedure gives interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed measures. It does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.