The unprecedented crisis caused by the pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) not only shattered the economics of the aviation industry, it also put to test long established legal rules, while Governments were desperately adopting emergency measures. Facing a very severe situation, caused by airspace closures and restrictions imposed to travellers, several European airlines received governmental support, while others did not. This led to criticisms from airlines, most notably from the low-cost carrier Ryanair, which transposed into legal actions undertaken in front of the General Court of the European Union. At the heart of this legal battle lay the rules governing State Aid, as the European Commission was criticized for not assessing thoroughly enough the measures that were notified by the Member States. The judgments of the General Court revealed that, irrespective of the exceptional situation faced in Europe, the correct application of EU Law must prevail, which includes the judicial review of acts adopted by the European institutions. As two decisions of the Commission authorizing measures of governmental support were annulled, some lessons can be learnt for the future.