EU-Qatar Aviation Agreement under fire – ACI EUROPE defends its merits
Recent calls from European airlines, pilot associations and labour groups to suspend the EU-Qatar Comprehensive Aviation Agreement have stirred intense debate across the aviation sector. Critics argue the agreement should be paused amid concerns over fairness and governance – including allegations surrounding how the deal was negotiated – and claims that Gulf-based carriers benefit unfairly from access to the EU market.
However, ACI EUROPE has come out strongly in defence of the deal, emphasising the Agreement’s wider benefits for the aviation market and the European citizens, and warning that suspending it would hit Europe’s airports, travellers and economy the hardest. The deal was negotiated by the European Commission with the explicit involvement and endorsement of EU Member States and is fully aligned with the EU’s External Aviation Policy, which is based on open, unrestricted market access and regulatory cooperation.
ACI EUROPE underlined that the Agreement has helped European airports diversify connectivity, bringing tangible benefits to communities, consumers and businesses across the continent. Importantly, available data shows Qatar Airways’ deployed seat capacity in Europe for the current winter season remains about 10% below pre-pandemic (2019) levels, undermining claims that the airline has significantly expanded its market share at the expense of European carriers.
In defending the merits of the EU-Qatar deal, ACI EUROPE is urging stakeholders and policymakers to carefully weigh the consequences of suspension against the widespread connectivity and economic benefits the Agreement supports and to focus discussion on a broader EU aviation strategy that strengthens competitiveness for all.
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