Ownership Rules In Europe
 

Can a US citizen or a US corporations own a EU/Europe based airline and/or can they be the majority owner (Voting Stock). Most countries limit foreign ownership and was wondering whether EU/Europe had the same rules.

Non EU individual or company/corporation can own up to 49% of an EU based registered airline. That's unlike in the US where I believe it's a max of 25%.

Thanks. That is what I gathered from browsing the net. The collapse of Cirrus Airlines is what triggered this question. Thanks again.

At the time the Third Package was put together (early 1990s) which defined European liberalisation, three non-EU airlines were given ‘honorary’ Community Carrier status. One was SAS which at the time was only 2/7 owned by (Danish) EU interests – Sweden was then not an EU member. The others were Britannia and Monarch, both Canadian-owned.

Whether the EU would allow the rule to be bent in order to – for example – rescue a Central European national airline from extinction is a moot point.

Also, I’m not sure how they monitor it. I’m pretty sure BA has a substantial non-EU ownership base, maybe close to the limit, and shares are changing hands every day.