Several major European airlines have found themselves under scrutiny as the European Commission launches an investigation into potential “greenwashing”.
These include Air France, KLM, Norwegian, SAS and various Lufthansa Group carriers.
The probe aims to determine the veracity of claims made by airlines regarding their efforts to reduce aircraft CO2 emissions through measures such as carbon offsetting or the use of sustainable fuels.
The Lufthansa Group, comprising airlines including Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Air Dolomiti and Eurowings, acknowledged it was part of the investigations. Similarly, Air France-KLM confirmed its involvement.
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Norwegian, in response to a Reuters inquiry, stated that it was reviewing the case material and intended to provide a response within the stipulated deadline. SAS, a Nordic carrier, also confirmed receiving a letter from the EU authorities.
The investigation comes amid calls for greater transparency regarding environmental claims within the aviation industry.
The EU emphasised the importance of substantiating all such claims with sound scientific evidence.
Politicians, farmers, auto manufacturers and some civil organisations are putting pressure on the EU to rethink restrictions. They argue that the only real impact of enforced emissions cuts as proposed in the Green Deal would be a reduction in quality of life and consumption capacity.
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) initially flagged the issue of potential greenwashing, pinpointing 17 airlines in its complaint. It remains unclear how closely BEUC’s list aligns with the EC’s, which reportedly includes three additional airlines.
The Brussels bureaucracy has refrained from disclosing the names of all airlines under its investigation and has underscored the preliminary nature of its inquiries.
Industry group Airlines for Europe (A4E) acknowledged the significance of clear sustainability information but highlighted regulatory disparities across EU Member States as an ongoing challenge.
French farmers declared a week of intensive protests targeting the European Green Deal, amid ongoing demonstrations against the plan across the continent. https://t.co/LTcTcDBnp9
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) January 22, 2024
