European Network Airlines Association calls for probe into EU-Qatar skies deal amid corruption claims

In 2018, Qatar Airways and two other Middle Eastern carriers reached an agreement with the US government to publish detailed financial reports after allegations by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines regarding illegal subsidies.

This is not the first time European airlines have questioned the EU-Qatar Open Skies agreement. In December 2024, Lufthansa Group urged Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EC, to suspend the agreement due to serious corruption allegations. Airports Council International (ACI) Europe responded by stating that suspending the agreement would harm EU's international credibility and limit airport expansion opportunities.

The corruption allegations related to 'Qatargate' surfaced in December 2022 when Belgian police arrested several members of the European Parliament over accusations of accepting bribes from countries including Qatar. Despite assurances from Carlos Bermejo Acosta of DG MOVE that there was no room for illegal speculation regarding the Open Skies agreement with Qatar in January 2023, POLITICO later revealed that Henrik Hololei received free business class flights from Qatar Airways during negotiations.

Věra Jourová stated that "competent Commission services are currently looking into" Hololei's trips but found no indication of undue influence on negotiations. She emphasized that "the aviation agreement between the EU and Qatar ensures...high standards for safety [and] fair competition."

The EC announced in 2021 that this Open Skies agreement would replace all bilateral agreements between EU Member States and provide a unified legal basis for developing aviation markets between Qatar and Europe. Data shows that in June 2025, Qatar Airways plans 348 weekly frequencies from 30 airports in Europe compared to June 2019 when it had 379 weekly flights.