09 February 2026 | Commercial Aviation

 

A coalition of European airline lobby groups and labour unions has called on European Union institutions to immediately suspend and reassess the EU-Qatar open skies air transport agreement, citing serious concerns over the integrity and transparency of the negotiation process following the dismissal of a senior EU transport official.

 

The European Network Airlines’ Association (ENAA), the European Cockpit Association (ECA), and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) said in a joint statement that the recent sacking of Henrik Hololei, former Director-General for Transport at the European Commission, has “further weakened confidence in the integrity and transparency of the process through which this agreement was negotiated and is being applied.”

 

Call for Immediate Suspension

 

The organisations urged EU Member States to halt the provisional application of the 2021 agreement and delay any further steps toward ratification until a renewed, credible, and transparent review process is ensured.

 

Under EU law, international agreements must be ratified by all 27 Member States before they become fully binding. However, the EU-Qatar aviation pact — aimed at liberalising air transport rights between the bloc and Qatar — remains pending full ratification. Twelve Member States, including major aviation markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands, have yet to complete the process.

 

Despite the incomplete ratification, key provisions of the agreement are already being applied on a provisional basis, granting expanded route and capacity rights to airlines on both sides.

 

Ethics Controversy Intensifies Scrutiny

 

The renewed pressure comes after Hololei’s dismissal on January 29, following an internal investigation that found breaches of administrative rules. Reports allege that he accepted complimentary flights and luxury hotel stays from the Qatari side during the negotiation period. While the European Commission has not formally linked the dismissal to the EU-Qatar agreement, the controversy has intensified scrutiny of the deal.

 

A criminal investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office into the alleged corruption remains ongoing.

 

Industry groups and unions argue that the unfolding ethics controversy undermines the legitimacy of the agreement and raises broader concerns about fair competition, governance standards, and transparency in EU aviation policymaking.

 

“We urge EU Member States to acknowledge these concerns and withdraw political support for the agreement at this stage, thereby encouraging a reassessment of its continuation under the current conditions,” the organisations said.

 

Agreement Under Long-Standing Scrutiny

 

The EU-Qatar open skies agreement has faced criticism since 2023, when media reports first highlighted alleged irregularities in its negotiation process. The latest developments have reignited debate among European carriers, labour representatives, and policymakers over the long-term implications of expanded market access for Gulf airlines.

 

The situation now places renewed political pressure on Member States as ratification decisions remain pending.