- Air France, its Dutch KLM arm, and Lufthansa’s Brussels Airlines are among 20 airlines investigated by the European Union.
- The EU has said it will not disclose the names of other airlines as long as the investigation is at a preliminary stage.
The EU said airlines, including Air France, needed to clarify to what extent claims that the CO2 emissions caused by a flight could be offset by climate projects or through sustainable fuels can be substantiated based on sound scientific evidence.
Following this, Air France, its Dutch KLM arm, and Lufthansa’s Brussels Airlines are among 20 airlines being investigated by the European Union for potentially misleading greenwashing practices, the airlines said.
“Air France confirms having received a letter from the European Commission. The company is currently reviewing its contents and will study the follow-up to be taken,” a spokesperson said.
The Lufthansa Group said in a statement that it naturally deals with every complaint it receives and that it is scrutinising it.
A spokesperson for KLM said the Dutch part of the Air France-KLM airline group had also received a letter from the commission.
Industry group Airlines for Europe (A4E), in a statement, said that it recognises the importance of clear information about sustainability but that current regulations in the EU “vary significantly between countries and are still evolving.”
It is unclear which other airlines are being investigated. The EU has noted it will not disclose the names as long as the investigation is preliminary.