“On s’est développé à l’Ouest ces dernières années, vers l’Amérique, mais on a délaissé l’Asie”.
European airlines are reassessing their route strategies as the conflict in the Middle East disrupts key flight paths and exposes a reliance on Gulf carriers for access to Asian markets. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr highlighted a shift in focus towards North America in recent years, resulting in reduced service to destinations in Asia. This strategic move has left a gap in service for European travelers seeking to reach cities like Manila, Philippines, with no European airlines currently offering direct routes.
Spohr explained, “I discussed with someone who was supposed to go to Manila in the Philippines and was surprised that there was no European company to accept him there. We have developed to the West in recent years, towards America, but we have neglected Asia. Not by choice, but due to the fact that we face, in these markets, companies that make unfair competition with us and with which we can hardly compete.” The comments came during the annual Airlines For Europe (A4E) summit in Brussels on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
The current crisis, stemming from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran which began February 28, has grounded thousands of flights and stranded passengers unable to transit through major hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. This disruption has prompted European carriers, including Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, to increase direct flights to Asia. According to Spohr, Lufthansa recently added 40 additional flights from Europe to Asia, filling the planes within a day. The situation underscores the vulnerability of European airlines’ international networks.
Competitive Disadvantages and Regulatory Concerns
Executives at A4E, which also includes British Airways-parent IAG, Ryanair and easyJet, attribute the competitive disadvantage to what they describe as “unfair” advantages enjoyed by Gulf carriers, as well as the burden of environmental taxes imposed on European airlines. Spohr stated, “We have given up our sovereignty in certain markets and we are seeing the consequences today. The Americans would never accept such a situation. For them, We see a priority not to be dependent on their international lines.”
Air France-KLM announced a €50 (USD $54) increase on all long-haul return tickets due to rising fuel costs, though the group indicated it is well-covered against fuel price fluctuations through the complete of the year. A4E is also challenging a European Union mandate requiring airlines to incorporate 1.2% sustainable aviation fuel into their reserves by 2030, citing the limited availability of synthetic fuel as a major obstacle.
