Proposals which would have given business aviation almost exclusive access to Milan's Linate Airport suffered a setback at the end of December. \rThe European Union's transport minister, Loyola de Palacio, approved the long-awaited transfer in October, and the transfer of airlines was to be undertaken in two stages, on December 15 and January 15. De Palacio expressed concern about the environmental impact of the move shortly prior to December 15, however, and proceedings were abruptly halted. The issue has been further complicated by the appointment of a new transport minister, Pier-Luigi Bersani, on December 22. \rLaura La Ferla, press officer at Linate Airport, told EBAN: "We are waiting for the new minister's decision, because he would like to speak with various key people, including Loyola de Palacio. At the moment we have no plan, date or even decision about the flights and the airlines' move from Linate." \rThere has been speculation in the media that, should airlines go to Malpensa, charges might rise for business aviation coming into Linate Airport. \rLa Ferla was unable to comment on this, but she did confirm that Bersani and Palacio met for the first time in Madrid on January 14 for the first in a protracted series of meetings aimed at resolving environmental concerns. Said La Ferla: "Since December, he (Bersani) has also met the president of the municipality of Milan and the president of Alitalia. After these meetings I think we will have a decision,"