EU okays KLM bailout after court veto

European regulators have approved a bailout for KLM.

A $2.9 billion rescue by the Dutch state was originally vetoed by a European court back in May.

At the time, judges said the EU had failed to explain why KLM was the only beneficiary of the aid.

They said there was no adequate explanation why the airline hadn't already benefited from French state aid given to its parent firm, Air France-KLM.

But the judges gave Brussels another chance to look at the case.

Now the European Commission says it has examined the Dutch and French bailouts, and exactly who benefited.

The Commission concluded that the KLM aid was necessary, appropriate and proportionate, given the potential disruption to the Dutch economy.

Ryanair won't agree with that.

The Irish budget airline had challenged the EU ruling, in one of its many appeals against the billions in aid going to rival carriers.