They denounce Air France-KLM, Ryanair and 15 other airlines for “green image washing”

Twenty-two European associations denounced this Thursday before the European Commission 17 airlines for alleged “green image wash” (“greenwashing”) and “deceptive business practices”.

These associations from 18 countries, members of the European Consumer Organization, reproach companies with promotions that “hint that air transport can be ‘sustainable’, ‘eco-responsible’ and ‘green’”, explained the French associations CLCV and UFC-Que Choisir.

The companies incriminated are Air Baltic, Air Dolomiti, Air France, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Ryanair, SAS, SWISS, TAP, Volotea, Vueling, Wizz Air.

“None of the strategies currently used by the aeronautical sector is capable of limiting greenhouse gas emissions”, they add.

“It is essential to put an end to these claims, because if air traffic continues to expand, emissions will continue to rise in the coming years.”, they emphasize.

The associations denounce practices such as encouraging passengers to pay “a major supplement” to offset CO2 emissions from a flight or to contribute to the development of sustainable aeronautical fuels, which “not yet ready for sale” and “in the best of cases they will represent a minimal part of the fuel tanksof the planes.

Air France-KLM proposes for example “underwriting expensive options, supposedly to cover their own carbon impact, on future flights with an unknown horizon”, lament the associations.

“It is unacceptable for airlines to claim that they are acting for the climate”, says Marie-Amandine Stévenin, president of UFC-Que Choisir.

“These claims must cease in the interest of consumer protection,” adds his peer from the CLCV association Jean Yves Mano, who asks the public authorities “act firmly”.

Contacted by AFP, Air France-KLM indicated that “pays increased attention to the rigor of its messages” and he remembered being in 2022 “the first buyer of sustainable fuel in the world”.

The 22 associations have referred the matter to their national consumer protection authorities and to the European Commission, through the European Consumer Organization (BEUC).

They are all waiting for a joint decision to ban “any claim that seeks to make consumers believe that taking the plane is an environmentally friendly practice.

They are also looking to release “a European-wide inquiry into the practices of these companies” and that they reimburse consumers who paid more for these options that they describe as “misleading”.

Lufthansa, the first European airline group, told AFP that it is committed to “a continuous dialogue” with its customers.

The German company plans, by 2030, to halve net CO2 emissions compared to 2019 “thanks to reduction and compensation measures”,

To reduce its environmental impact, the German giant relies on a “accelerated fleet modernization“, a “continuous optimization of air operations” and the “sustainable use of aviation fuel”.