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Norwegian is the third low-cost airline behind EasyJet and Ryanair. PHOTO AFP / TT NEWS AGENCY / JOHAN NILSSON

A new battle on subsidies in the aeronautics is announced. Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister of Economy announced in Figaro and RTL, its intention to seize the European Commission on alleged public aid from the low-cost airline Norwegian Air. The minister wants to defend French companies.

Bruno Le Maire partly blames competition from Norwegian Air, the third low-cost airline, the defeat of XL Airways. The French company, in cessation of payment, is seeking at the moment a buyer, while Aigle Azur has just failed .

Norwegian Air, assures the French minister, enjoys Norwegian public support, and that, " he can not accept it "

An attack on Oslo that comes, chance or not, only two days after the call made to the government by fifteen unions of air transport personnel. Among the grievances of these organizations, successive government arbitrations between airlines and airport managers. Their anger is also precisely about the distortion of competition. Among which, "social dumping, tax optimization" and "state subsidies".

Without mentioning any company in particular, the unions denounce the financings by petrodollars. A few years ago, American companies accused their competitors in the Gulf of receiving huge subsidies.

The French government has decided to aim further north with Norwegian air. Without waiting for the commission to be seized, the company, also in financial difficulty, assured that it had never received any government assistance.