Europe's airlines say conflicts, red tape are holding them back as rivals streak ahead

The European Union has asked for feedback on a new Aviation and Aeronautics Strategy, with the deadline for submissions set for Thursday as the sector struggles with the knock-on effects of the Iran ⁠conflict.

"The COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of Russian airspace, the crisis in the Middle East, together with growing global protectionism have worsened the competitive disadvantage for EU carriers," Airlines for Europe (A4E) said in its submission to the EU seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

The group, which represents carriers including Ryanair, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, has lobbied for reforming and limiting disruption around air traffic control in Europe, looser sustainability rules and ‌help ⁠to make the sector more globally competitive.

Specifically, the group is calling on the EU to create a stronger crisis management framework and an aviation waiver which would allow obligations to be temporarily suspended or adjusted when complying ⁠with them is clearly impractical or counterproductive.

The airline sector was among the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread disruption to travel this ⁠year due to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

The document also calls on the EU to "address the structural failure of the sustainable aviation ⁠fuel (SAF) market" and to deal with challenges with airspace congestion and loss of market share to non-EU carriers, such as Chinese and Middle East airlines.