News / Battle lines drawn in Brussels over EU access for Qatar Airways

© Péter Gudella

A row is brewing in the EU that could result in restricted access to the market for major player Qatar Airways. 

Last week, airlines and unions represented by the European Cockpit Association (ECA), European Network Airlines’ Association (ENAA), and European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) called on the EC to suspend the EU-Qatar Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement, which gives Qatar Airways extensive EU-wide market access. 

Noting “serious concern”, they pointed to the commission’s recent decision to fire the official who led the negotiations with Qatar, following compliance concerns including conflicts of interest, transparency, and gift acceptance. But, they added, the agreement was already a bad deal for Europe’s airlines. 

“Recent developments have further weakened confidence in the integrity and transparency of the process through which this agreement was negotiated and is being applied… 

“These events occur in a broader context of heightened scrutiny of relations between EU institutions and Qatar, within the field of aviation and beyond, reinforcing the need for prudence, transparency, and credibility in this file. This is all the more justified, because – as employers and employees have long expressed – the agreement fails to establish an overall economic balance and has failed to deliver on fair competition.” 

It urged the commission to suspend the “provisional” application of the agreement (which is still in force) “until all outstanding concerns related to the negotiation process and governance issues have been conclusively addressed”. 

However, Europe’s airports have pushed back strongly against any move to suspend the agreement. 

ACI Europe last week warned that rolling back the EU–Qatar agreement would undermine air connectivity, consumer choic,e and the EU’s standing as a credible international aviation partner.

It also challenged claims that the agreement had distorted competition, saying there was no evidence that Qatar Airways had gained a dominant or unfair position in Europe. It pointed to capacity data showing that Qatar Airways’ seat deployment in Europe during the current IATA winter season (October 2025 to March 2026) remains around 10% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019. 

Europe appears to be Qatar’s lowest growth market, with widebody capacity, in both freighters and passenger aircraft, up just 4% in the year to date, compared with last year, while it has put double-digit growth into other regions. In the past 12 months Qatar has cut capacity into Europe by 4%.

It is estimated that Qatar Airways operates about 15,000 to 20,000 flights a year into the EU, or 7.5% to 10% of its total flights. However, about half of its European capacity is freighters, so any restrictions on flight rights could limit airfreight buyers. 

However, despite the sharp rhetoric from both sides, any suspension of the agreement would not mean an immediate halt to Qatar Airways flights to Europe. 

Before the EU-level deal was signed, Qatar’s access to the European market was governed by bilateral air services agreements between it and individual EU member states. Many of those agreements remain in force, and generally grant third- and fourth-freedom rights, allowing airlines to operate passenger and cargo services between Doha and specific European countries. 

The real stakes, therefore, lie less in immediate traffic rights and more in the broader political and strategic implications. Qatar Airways has been approached for comment. 

Any decision to suspend the agreement would be welcomed by rival carriers. Emirates SkyCargo recently announced it would serve Liege with five weekly 777Fs, connecting Europe with Chicago, as well as Dubai. 

Also into Liege is a new service from Nairobi, offered jointly by Magma Aviation and perishables logistics provider MidnightZulu, until May. 

In other route news, MSC Air Cargo said today it was launching a 777F Milan Malpensa-Shanghai route from 3 March, but gave no detail on frequency.