| Series Title | European Voice |
|---|---|
| Series Details | 21/12/95, Volume 1, Number 14 |
| Publication Date | 21/12/1995 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 21/12/1995 Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock announced his long-awaited decision on the Iberia state aid case last Thursday, then rushed straight to Zaventem to catch a flight to Madrid to look into airline deregulation and, at the same time, sneak in a visit to the Socialist mini-summit being held on the eve of the real thing. Kinnock didn't travel Iberia, however. Appropriately enough, he supported EBA, one of the new wave of third deregulation package entrants into the market, which provides a no-frills cheap service between several EU capitals, including Brussels and Madrid. But there was at least one frill for the Commissioner: while the rest of the passengers on the flight clambered aboard the usual airside bus on landing, Kinnock was met at the bottom of the aircraft steps by a van - courtesy, that is, not of EBA, but of Iberia. It was the least they could do in gratitude for a satisfactory outcome to the state aid case... Other airlines operating flights to Madrid that day were not denied Commission patronage. Spanish Commissioner Manuel Marín did fly Iberia, and reportedly spent much of the time in the cockpit passing on details of the Kinnock decision to the cabin staff, explaining what lucky people they were. Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert, meanwhile, stayed loyal to his own country's airline and soared across the Pyrenees with Sabena. |
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| Subject Categories | Internal Markets, Mobility and Transport, Politics and International Relations |
| Countries / Regions | Spain, United Kingdom |
