For more than a decade, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have used massive state subsidies to predatorily expand the international networks of their state-owned airlines- in direct and flagrant violation of the agreements allowing them to fly into countries like the United States in the first place.
One year ago, both Qatar and the UAE agreed to greater financial transparency, an end to their illegal subsidy practices & market distorting tactics, and a freeze on new routes into the United States until the subsidy issue had been resolved.
Has that happened? NO.
Qatar Airways quickly invested in failing Italian regional carrier Meridiana, rebranded it as Air Italy, and announced the launch of service to the US via Italy. Six North American gateways have been announced in the past year alone. They will be operated on Qatar Airways owned airplanes until the almost FIFTY long haul aircraft Air Italy has ordered since Qatar Airways’ investment are delivered. And both Qatar Airways and Emirates have announced increased frequency/ larger aircraft service on a number of routes between the US and their hubs while the US waits on documentation and increased transparency from both airlines- two things yet to be seen.
It is time for the Trump Administration to act. Join us in asking President Trump and the US Government to hold Qatar and the UAE accountable by signing our petition below.
50
BILLION IN SUBSIDIES OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS
1,500
U.S. AVIATION JOBS LOST FOR EVERY ROUTE LOST OR FORGONE TO SUBSIDIZED COMPETITION
Sec. Pompeo on Enforcing our Open Skies Agreements
Recent Headlines
Trump must hold Qatar accountable for violating the Open Skies agreement
Last week, President Trump hosted Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, at the White House. The two leaders discussed Middle East security and peacekeeping efforts, and celebrated a Qatar Airways agreement to purchase five American-made Boeing 777 cargo planes. While the order is good news for beleaguered Boeing, which is still reeling from the crashes and groundings of
Airline CEOs: Subsidized Gulf airlines are violating trade agreements, threatening US jobs
For decades, the U.S. aviation industry has served as an economic engine in every state, creating jobs for millions of Americans and building business opportunities across a wide range of industries. We’re proud that the three airlines we lead are an integral part of this story. But in recent years, two foreign countries have thrown a wrench into this
NEWT GINGRICH: TRUMP SHOULD PUSH QATARI EMIR TO END UNFAIR SUBSIDIES | OPINION
The US economy is a behemoth. With an estimated $21.06 trillion gross domestic product, no other country on the planet can match our overall economic strength—without cheating, anyway. Unfortunately, some countries do cheat. One of the principle ways that other countries unfairly undermine and attack our economy—and therefore American jobs—is by heavily subsidizing their own industries to