Lufthansa Urges EU to Suspend Qatar Open Skies Agreement

Lufthansa Group’s Supervisory Board has issued its first “political resolution,” advocating for significant changes to European Union aviation policies, including the suspension of the 2021 EU-Qatar open skies agreement. The airline alleges corruption during the agreement’s negotiations and highlights competitive disadvantages for EU carriers.

Lufthansa criticized the EU-Qatar deal, citing unequal market conditions and social policy disparities. The group referenced the “Qatargate” scandal, where European officials were accused of accepting bribes from Qatar, Morocco, and Mauritania. While Qatargate did not directly involve the open skies agreement, the European Parliament suspended Qatar-related legislation, including the air transport deal, delaying its formal ratification. However, the agreement remains in effect on an interim basis.

In March 2023, reports revealed that Henrik Holohei, former head of the EU Directorate General of Mobility and Transport, accepted business-class flights from Qatar Airways during the agreement’s negotiations. He resigned in April 2023 amid mounting scrutiny. Lufthansa emphasized the need for a full suspension and further investigation.

The resolution also addressed competitive imbalances caused by Asian carriers’ ability to overfly Russia, a privilege denied to EU airlines. Lufthansa highlighted increased capacity from Turkish airlines to Russia as exacerbating these issues.

Additionally, the board called for reduced bureaucracy, revisions to the EU Green Deal, and policies that consider economic impacts alongside environmental goals.

In related news, Lufthansa announced the closure of its tour operator brand Lufthansa Holidays by January 2025, shifting its focus to the Eurowings Holidays travel platform.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com