VC warns against EU-Qatar aviation agreement to be put into effect

Wednesday, 16 September 2020

VC warns against EU-Qatar aviation agreement to be put into effect

An air transport agreement (CATA) negotiated between the EU Commission and the State of Qatar provides for a gradual opening of the European market for airlines from Qatar.

This should enable them to increase their frequencies and destinations within the EU. In order to come into force, the agreement must be examined and signed by the Council of the European Union, which has not yet taken place. In VC's view, this is completely the wrong time considering the current situation. 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission and the Member States should postpone the signing of the agreement and postpone the opening of the market for Qatar Airways until traffic has returned to pre-crisis levels. Also, before signing, the Commission must ensure that the State of Qatar complies with the agreement's provisions on fair competition and social standards.

If the agreement were to enter into force under the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, it would send a fatal signal to the European air transport industry its employees. Short- and medium-haul traffic has collapsed, and long-haul traffic has virtually come to a complete standstill. A further opening of the market under these completely changed market conditions, which is currently completely unnecessary, would be an economic and socio-political disaster for the EU.

Markus Wahl, VC President: "In a phase in which many EU member states and their taxpayers are trying to give air traffic a future with extensive bridging loans in a one-off crisis, a recovery must not be burdend by political aspirations. The European air traffic market and all its employees are under considerable pressure as a result of the overcapacities that have existed for a long time. At such a moment, politics must not pour oil in to the fire.

We therefore call on the political decision-makers to take responsibility for their economy and for the European workforce. They must not sign the agreement for the time being!"

 

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Contact:

Janis Schmitt, Board Member and Spokesperson, Tel. 0176 / 16 959 001,

VC press office, Tel. 069 / 69 59 76 102

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VC is the German Airline Pilots‘ Association. The fundamental objectives of the VC are contributing to the welfare and safety of civil aviation as well as ensuring and pursuing the interests of its 9,600 members regarding technical affairs and industrial affairs.

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V. i. S. d. P.: Vereinigung Cockpit, Unterschweinstiege 10, 60549 Frankfurt, phone.: 069 / 69 59 76 - 0, fax: 069 / 69 59 76 - 150; presse@vcockpit.de, www.VCockpit.de

 

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