Among the companies targeted: Air France, Ryanair, Brussels Airlines, as well as KLM, Lufthansa, Vueling and Wizz Air.
Following an alert from the European Consumer Bureau (BEUC), the European Commission and the EU consumer protection authorities (Consumer Protection Cooperation Network Authorities – CPC) have sent letters to 20 airlines in which they identify several types of potentially misleading ecological claims.
Several types of potential deceptive practices have been identified, such as:
– create the erroneous impression that paying an additional fee to finance climate change projects with less environmental impact or to support the use of alternative aviation fuels can reduce or fully compensate CO2 emissions
– the use of the term “sustainable aviation fuels” (CAD) without clearly justifying the environmental impact of these fuels, or the misuse of the words “green”, “sustainable” or “responsible”
– the assertion that the airline is moving towards zero net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or any future environmental performance, without clear and verifiable commitments, objectives and independent monitoring systems
– the provision of a “calculator” making it possible to quantify the CO2 emissions of a given flight, without providing sufficient scientific evidence as to the reliability of this calculation
– present to consumers a comparison of flights with regard to their CO2 emissions, without providing sufficient and precise information on the elements on which the comparison is based.
Proof to be provided within 30 days
The European Commission and the CPC network authorities have called on the companies concerned to provide, within 30 days, “robust scientific evidence” justifying their claims, or a response setting out the measures they propose to address the concerns arising from their environmental claims.
After receiving the companies’ responses, the European Commission will organize meetings with the CPC network and the airlines to discuss the solutions proposed by them. Furthermore, the Commission will monitor the implementation of the agreed changes.
If the airlines concerned do not take the necessary measures to resolve the issues raised in the letter, the CPC network authorities may decide to take further enforcement measures, including sanctions.
