Covid-19 crisis thrusts state aid, airline survival to the forefront of governments response

Duration: 13:07

As governments around the world scramble to respond to the economic downturn sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic, fears are mounting that state intervention to prop up specific businesses could harm competition. In the European Union, divisions over state aid have led to unusual divisions between northern and southern member states, while the readiness of governments to help national airlines has sparked criticism on the part of competing airlines that aren’t receiving support. While in Australia, the government is steadfastly refusing to step in to save a local airlines, despite the prospect of the country being left with one, monopoly domestic airline.