Lufthansa sees Gulf competition as threat; criticises German passenger tax

Lufthansa CEO, Wolfgang Mayrhuber, stated the carrier views competition from Gulf airlines as a growing and serious threats to Lufthansa and other European carriers (Frankfurt Allgemeine, 10-Sep-2010). Mr Mayrhuber added that the German Government's planned tax on passengers could endanger investment like a "lead weight", adding that the air tax, which is expected to raise EUR1 billion p/a, is comparable to the combined operating results of all airlines in Germany in a good year.

Lufthansa: "The three national airlines from the Gulf region [Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways] are creating unbelievably huge capacity for aircraft and airports at enormous speed with pretty much inexhaustible financial means from oil sources," Wolfgang Mayrhuber, CEO. Source: Frankfurt Allgemeine, 10-Sep-2010.