As demand for air travel has fallen in response to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis, the global air transport sector has been severely impacted. This article investigates the extent to which and on what conditions state aid measures are applied to airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and aircraft manufacturers in response to the crisis. In that connection, reflections are offered in this article on the role of the State and the flexibility of EU state aid law in these unprecedented times. © 2020 Kluwer Law International BV, The Netherlands.