The latter part of the year 2011 has been notable for the progress finally made in resolving the Siberian overflight dispute between the European Commission (hereinafter 'Commission') and EU Member States in relation to their respective bilateral air service agreements (ASA) with Russia. On the mergers and investigations front, things have remained relatively quiet during this period, with most of the current Commission investigations still ongoing and very little in the way of Commission decisions under the European Merger Regulation (EUMR) in the aviation sector.
This article first summarizes any judgments of the European Courts1 as well as any decisions and ongoing investigations by the Commission that occurred during the period under review. It then considers in further detail some of the more significant cases and important themes arising therefrom and, in particular, the resolution of the Siberian overflight dispute.
Air and Space Law