The European Cockpit Association has warned Germany against granting additional traffic rights to Emirates and other Gulf carriers, as pressure builds for more services to Berlin and Stuttgart. The pilots’ group argues that any expansion of bilateral rights should be tied to fair competition conditions, in a dispute that centres on market access rather than new aircraft orders or route launches.
The association links its opposition to uneven operating conditions between European airlines and carriers from the United Arab Emirates. It points to higher costs for European operators because they must avoid Russian airspace, while airlines such as Emirates can still use those routes. That, it argues, distorts competition and lengthens journey times on European networks.
The group also warns that extra rights could shift passenger flows permanently through non-European hubs, weakening jobs, value creation and the competitiveness of airports across Europe. The debate comes as Germany faces renewed pressure to expand existing bilateral arrangements for Emirates, with Berlin and Stuttgart identified as the main targets for additional capacity.