Major European carriers are sounding the alarm as they struggle to keep pace with international competitors amid a wave of geopolitical and regulatory hurdles. Represented by the lobby group Airlines for Europe (A4E), titans like Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, and Ryanair argue that a combination of regional crises—ranging from the closure of Russian airspace to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East—has left them at a significant disadvantage. In a formal submission for the EU’s new Aviation and Aeronautics Strategy, the group emphasized that rising regulatory burdens and operational costs are stifling their ability to grow in an increasingly protectionist global market.

To regain their footing, A4E is pushing for a more flexible regulatory environment that includes a formal crisis management framework. The airlines are calling on Brussels to provide "aviation waivers" that would allow for the temporary suspension of certain obligations during periods of extreme instability. Furthermore, the group is urging officials to tackle structural issues within the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market and address persistent airspace congestion. They warn that without proactive support to manage these bottlenecks and mitigate the impact of non-EU rivals gaining market share, the European aviation sector risks falling further behind on the global stage.