Court of Justice of European Union (“the Court” or “CJEU”) published a press release numbered 68/20 regarding the case LE v. Transportes Aéreos Portugueses SA (“TAP”) on June 11, 2020. CJEU, touches many companies operating in global aviation industry. Overall, the Court responses the query whether an ‘extraordinary circumstance’ would constitute an exemption for an air-carrier to pay compensation for the cancellation or long delay of a subsequent flight.

On June 10, 2020, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (“EASA”) announced the first type certification worldwide, a fully electric aircraft called “Velis Electro” designed by a Slovenian company, Pipistrel d.o.o. The certification of Velis Electro as an emission-free aircraft is regarded as the first concrete response to the query that aviation would ever be less polluting.

Communique No. II-23.2.B on Amendment of the Communique on Merger and Demerger No. II-23-2 (“Amending Communique”) entered into force  on May 30, 2020. By virtue of the Amending Communique, the public companies whose controller is a public institution or organization shall be exempted from several requirements arising from the Article 12 of the Communique on Merger and Demerger No. II-23-2 (“Communique No. II-23-2”).

Through the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation industry was hit the hardest amongst others due to strict measures enforced by the public authorities and eventually, slump in demand amongst passengers. Whilst aviation was quoted as “an amazing industry” and “freedom” prior to COVID-19, with the surge of the pandemic, the industry has experienced a rapid slowdown and been dragged into a tremendous freeze.

Government aid especially in aviation has always been the hot topic but nobody expected that such would be the sole way-out to overcome this unprecedented situation for many. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the catastrophic atmosphere has spread and thus, air transport has most probably experienced the longest shut-down and the biggest crisis in its history.