The closure of Cyprus Airways and the European Commission’s decision on “illegal state aid” remains a headache for Brussels, since the Maltese MEP Alfred Sant has submitted questions on the National Cypriot airline’s demise through a series of written queries, to European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager.

This was disclosed by the influential Cypriot newspaper The Liberal, the oldest and largest Greek-language daily newspaper in circulation on the island.

The Cypriot journal reported that Alfred Sant criticised harshly the decision of Brussels on the closure of Cyprus Airways and especially the lack of political will to maintain the connectivity particularly in not so competitive routes on islands, which are member states of the EU.

The journal said that the Maltese MEP has so far submitted two related questions to EC Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager emphasising the negative impact on the air connectivity of Cyprus with the rest of Europe.

The Liberal says that major media in Malta reported Dr Sant’s strong criticism at the European Commission, stressing that the solution of “state-subsidised flights” on vital routes proposed by Brussels after the closure of Cyprus Airways “is not realistic” and that it is “a burdensome approach which would reduce the flexibility of islands and other peripheral destinations, which have to maintain and promote their tourism. Once again it is proved, that the blind application of rules on state aid for island regions are an inappropriate policy.”

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