法航荷航CEO：跟中国比，我们处于劣势

Core Viewpoint - The CEOs of Air France-KLM and Lufthansa express concerns over unfair competition faced by European airlines due to restrictions on flying over Russian airspace, which increases flight times and operational costs compared to Chinese competitors who do not face such limitations [1][3][4]. Group 1: Competition and Operational Challenges - European airlines, particularly those in Western Europe, are at a competitive disadvantage when flying to Asia, as they must avoid Russian airspace, resulting in an additional 2 to 2.5 hours of flight time [1][4]. - The additional flight time leads to increased operational costs that European airlines must bear, while passengers are less willing to endure longer flights, further impacting competitiveness against Chinese airlines [1][4]. - The CEOs argue that the current situation effectively provides Chinese airlines with an advantage in entering the European market [1]. Group 2: Regulatory and Geopolitical Context - The CEOs call for European authorities to take action similar to the U.S. government's proposed ban on airlines flying over Russian airspace, emphasizing the need for a fair competitive environment [3][4]. - They highlight that non-EU airlines often do not face the same regulatory and tax burdens as EU carriers, allowing them to expand in the European market without restrictions [3][4]. - The geopolitical landscape, particularly following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has led to significant operational challenges for Western airlines, while Chinese airlines continue to benefit from shorter routes through Russian airspace [4][5]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Data from Cirium indicates that by the end of last year, Chinese airlines accounted for approximately 75% of the seat capacity for flights between Germany and France, and are expected to dominate routes to Italy and the UK [5]. - Previous complaints from Western airlines regarding "unfair competition" have been noted, with calls for government intervention to limit the number of flights from Chinese carriers to Europe [5]. - The U.S. government's threats to restrict Chinese airlines from flying over Russian airspace are seen as a response to perceived disadvantages faced by American carriers [5].