Air-France KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa AG are urging their respective governments to take action against the rising number of flights from Chinese carriers to Europe, which they argue creates unfair competition. Air-France KLM is lobbying the French government to cap the number of Chinese flights, while Lufthansa is pushing for Germany to challenge Beijing over the perceived distorted rivalry.
Chinese airlines have gained a competitive edge by flying over Russian airspace, saving time and offering cheaper fares, while European airlines are unable to do the same due to restrictions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lufthansa plans to cut its Frankfurt-Beijing flights by the end of this month, citing unprofitability from using older, fuel-inefficient jets on the route.
The competition has been further fueled by Chinese government subsidies, with the three largest Chinese airlines receiving 111.1 billion yuan (US$15.7 billion) in grants. By the end of this year, Chinese airlines will dominate 75% of seat capacity on flights between China and Europe’s major hubs, with an even greater share on flights to Italy and the UK.
European carriers have been slower to restore flights to China post-pandemic, leading to a surge in Chinese flights offering competitive airfares. Air-France KLM and Lufthansa have yet to comment publicly on the lobbying efforts, while calls for EU action continue to grow in response to China's increasing influence on Europe’s air travel market.
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