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Ryanair Accuses Lufthansa of Faking Climate Fears to Keep Airport Slots

  • Irish carrier slams rival’s claim it has to fly empty planes
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A passenger aircraft, operated by Deutsche Lufthansa AG, flies over Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany.

A passenger aircraft, operated by Deutsche Lufthansa AG, flies over Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany.

Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg

Ryanair Holdings Plc is accusing German competitor Deutsche Lufthansa AG of raising false environmental concerns about so-called ghost flights to protect its bases at major airports. 

Lufthansa has claimed European Union slot regulations will force it to fly 18,000 flights without passengers over the winter season, causing unnecessary carbon-dioxide emissions. While activists including Greta Thunberg appeared to sympathize, Ryanair said the German airline should sell cheaper tickets to make sure the planes aren’t empty.