European aviation giants Lufthansa and Air France-KLM are escalating concerns over a deeply skewed competitive landscape within the European air transport market, accusing non-EU carriers of benefiting from advantages unavailable to European airlines. The CEOs, Carsten Spohr and Benjamin Smith respectively, voiced their frustrations in joint statements to German and French business publications, highlighting a system they deem increasingly unsustainable.
The core of the issue lies in the perceived unfairness of the “open skies” agreements, particularly the accord with Qatar Airways. Spohr characterized the agreement as granting a carrier lacking a substantial domestic market “unrestricted access” to all European markets – a situation he declared “unprecedented in global aviation”. This, combined with the ability of these airlines to circumvent European regulations and taxes, creates a significant disadvantage for EU-based carriers and poses a “major risk” to the industry’s long-term viability.
The disruption of established European routes to Southeast Asia, once directly served by Dutch, German and French airlines, is a tangible consequence. Spohr lamented the displacement of these connections by state-supported hubs in Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, effectively funneling passengers through these intermediary points.
Smith went further, branding the Qatar agreement as being “negotiated in a highly questionable manner” and describing its continued existence as “a scandal” referencing ongoing investigations into potential corruption surrounding its initial approval. The criticism extends beyond Qatar; Turkish Airlines and other Middle Eastern carriers are accused not of creating new business, but of merely diverting existing European traffic.
The situation is causing escalating difficulties for European airlines seeking to maintain direct, nonstop routes, creating a downward spiral that Smith suggests is “very, very difficult to reverse”. Both CEOs are now urging the European Union to implement measures designed to safeguard European companies within the sector. Smith specifically proposed a “dumping mechanism” at the EU’s borders to bolster competitiveness, while Spohr suggested a rethinking of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandates, transforming them into a passenger levy proportionate to destination, effectively acting as a form of targeted taxation.
Adding to the perceived imbalance, the necessity for European airlines to reroute flights around Russian airspace – a burden not shouldered by Chinese carriers – has also drawn criticism. Spohr encouraged the EU to emulate a recent initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump, which seeks to restrict US airspace access for airlines transiting over Russia. This highlights a growing call within Europe for a re-evaluation of existing aviation agreements and a more robust defense of the region’s airline industry against external economic and political pressures.