The aviation industry in Europe is facing a number of challenges, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties. Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has now brought the problems of unfair competition from Chinese airlines into the spotlight. In an interview with the Dutch television program WNL Op Zondag, she criticized the uneven playing field that makes life difficult for European airlines. Her call for the European Commission to take financial measures to eliminate these inequalities raises important questions about the future of European aviation. Unfair competitive advantages through Russian airspace One of the main reasons cited by Rintel is the use of Russian airspace by Chinese airlines. While European airlines are forced to fly alternative and longer routes, Chinese airlines can use the direct route through Russian airspace. This not only leads to time savings of two to four hours, but also to lower fuel costs, which gives a significant price advantage in the current competitive situation. "This is reflected in the price and of course the costs are higher for us," said Rintel. These differences have a negative impact on the competitiveness of European airlines and force them to charge higher ticket prices. The issue is not new and has already provoked similar reactions from other European airlines, such as Lufthansa, which have also pointed to the need for EU intervention. Rintel demands that Europe should take action to eliminate these inequalities and create a fairer competitive environment. "Europe can at least see how we can prevent this unfair playing field by