In April the European Commission approved three state-aid schemes for airports and airlines in France – the first time state-aid was approved on the basis of new guidelines adopted in February 2014. T&E said the guidelines would continue to give aviation a ‘leg-up’ over less carbon intensive modes of transport, while the EU and member states claim they are aiming to decarbonise their economies. The contradiction would also undermine Europe’s effort to be a climate leader.