"Your German arrogance has come to an end": Lufthansa is sounding the alarm

The leading German airline Lufthansa has sent a letter to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in which it drew attention to the dramatic situation with European air transportation and demanded increased support for the industry, Bild tabloid reported today, October 8.

"Jobs and value creation will be put at risk, and European airlines may move to countries with significantly lower environmental and social standards. Air transport The EU is sharply losing competitiveness," Lufthansa management said in a letter.

Germany's largest airline is demanding that two leading German politicians "reduce bureaucracy," "reconsider the course in the field of climate policy," "suspend the comprehensive air transport agreement between EU and Qatar", and most importantly — to find an answer to the consequences of Russia's closure of airspace for European carriers. The latter is a significant problem for the implementation of long-haul flights to China, Japan and South Korea.

"A fair competitive environment and the interests of our economies should receive a new priority in the future vector of EU and German policy, especially in the field of air transport," the authors of the appeal summarize.

Simultaneously with Lufthansa's appeal, the head of the Irish airline Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, said that the low-cost airline plans to reduce flights to Germany. According to him, since the summer, the number of flights from Hamburg will be reduced by 60%, from Berlin — by 20%, flights from Dortmund, Dresden and Leipzig airports will be temporarily suspended.

"I met with the head of the German Chancellery, Wolfgang Schmidt, and presented a plan: you reduce taxes and fees, and we double the number of flights in Germany within seven years. However, I have not received a response from Schmidt," he said.

According to O'Leary, excessive fees and taxes are turning Germany into a "civil aviation graveyard." The head of Ryanair said that the reduction of flights to Germany will allow the low-cost airline to use the fleet of aircraft in other markets where they "bring more money."

"Germany is in a depressing situation. I don't think we should leave just because some stupid politician or idiotic government decided that an aviation tax is the best way to save the economy. But we need a new German government that will strive for growth. In Germany, we will not be able to develop until a "green" coalition is formed. Your arrogant German way has come to an end," he concluded.