EU Investigates Alleged Greenwashing by Air France and Lufthansa Group Airlines
The companies disclosed on Thursday that Air France, its Dutch counterpart KLM, Norwegian, SAS, and several airlines within the Lufthansa Group are under scrutiny as part of the European Union’s investigation into potential greenwashing practices.
The EU has highlighted the need for airlines to provide transparent information regarding their efforts to address aircraft CO2 emissions, emphasizing the importance of substantiating such claims with robust scientific evidence. This includes offsetting emissions through climate projects or utilizing sustainable aviation fuels.
The Lufthansa Group specified that the airlines under investigation include Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Air Dolomiti, and Eurowings. Similarly, Air France-KLM confirmed its involvement in the probe. Norwegian acknowledged receipt of the letter from EU authorities and said it is reviewing the case material before responding within the stipulated timeframe. Nordic carrier SAS also confirmed receipt of the letter.
In response to the investigation, industry group Airlines for Europe (A4E) acknowledged the importance of transparent sustainability information. However, they noted the disparity in regulations across EU member states, which are still evolving.
While the EU has refrained from disclosing the names of all airlines under investigation at this preliminary stage, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has identified 17 airlines in its complaint. Besides those already mentioned, BEUC’s list includes Air Baltic, Finnair, Ryanair, TAP, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizz Air. TAP did not confirm its involvement in the probe but referenced a statement by A4E regarding the EU’s investigation.
The remaining carriers listed by BEUC did not respond immediately to Reuters’ requests for comment. Reuters is seeking comments from these airlines to ascertain their stance on the matter.
There appears to be some discrepancy between BEUC’s and EU lists, with the former identifying three additional airlines. This highlights the complexity of the investigation and the need for thorough examination before concluding.
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