January 2018 - Americans for Fair Skies

Progress with Qatar Sets Stage for UAE Negotiations

January 31, 2018 Aviation Jobs, News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

Americans for Fair Skies, and the tens of thousands of aviation workers who have spoken up in support of our effort, sends its sincere appreciation to President Trump and his Administration for taking meaningful action to end the illegal and anti-competitive subsidies provided by the State of Qatar to its state-owned airline, Qatar Airways.

Without government subsidization, Qatar Airways would have been insolvent a long time ago. No private investor would invest in a company with so much red ink on its books. In 2017 alone, Qatar Airways received nearly $500 million in illegal government subsidies from the State of Qatar. This is on top of the more than $26 billion (that’s “billion” with a “b”) in government subsidies that Qatar Airways has received since 2004. These massive subsidies are in direct violation of Qatar’s Open Skies aviation trade agreement with the United States. They allow the airline to engage in predatory seat dumping, distorting the international marketplace and force U.S. airlines that play by the rules to abandon once-profitable routes, costing Americans jobs.

Thankfully, President Trump has stepped up and said no more. As the President said in his State of the Union speech last night, “The era of economic surrender is totally over.”

As we wrote about earlier this week, the Trump Administration announced that it has entered into an agreement with the State of Qatar that cracks down on their aviation trade cheating. The agreement forces Qatar Airways to use internationally agreed upon accounting and auditing standards and apply commercial terms to all transactions. Additionally, the agreement will make sure Qatar Airways pays its share of what it costs to operate out of its international airport instead of allowing that tab to be picked up by its government owners.

This transparency will allow the U.S. government to ensure that Qatar Airways operates free from state-subsidization going forward, or, if they continue to cheat, be held accountable for their distortion of the marketplace. The successful negotiation by the Administration brings us one step closer to the level playing field that must exist in the international aviation industry. The U.S. must now hold Qatar accountable and enforce the terms of this agreement. A4FS will remain vigilant on behalf of American aviation workers and expose any foul play on Qatar’s end.

The Trump Administration has also received an important commitment that Qatar Airways will not introduce any 5^th freedom passenger flights to the United States. This tactic, employed by other carriers around the world that are not subsidized, allows airlines to carry passengers between two nations without stopping in the airline’s home country. By ensuring that Qatar Airways will not operate 5^th freedom routes into the United States, the Administration precludes the carrier from undercutting U.S. airlines and their employees in the competitive transatlantic market by artificially increasing seat capacity. These same guarantees must also be obtained from the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE’s two largest international carriers, Emirates and Etihad Airways, are also massively subsidized by their state owners. This illegal and unfair reality should be likewise exposed and brought to a close. Emirates, an airline fueled by subsidies from the Dubai government, currently flies subsidized 5^th Freedom routes from Europe to the U.S., distorting the marketplace and depriving U.S. airlines and their workers of the right to compete on fair and equal terms. Future negotiations by the Trump Administration should bring transparency to the UAE subsidies and address related party transactions between the airlines and other government owned entities. We anticipate the same leadership that the Trump Administration showed in its negotiations with Qatar to be exercised in its dealings with the UAE.

Join us in thanking President Trump for his leadership on trade enforcement and for standing up for U.S. workers by putting an end to Qatar’s illegal aviation subsidies.

Major Airlines In the US Praise Secretary Tillerson’s Agreement With his Qatar Counterpart

January 31, 2018 News, President Trump No comments

The Secretary for the US State Department Rex Tillerson has confirmed that the United States and Qatar have come to an understanding on matters about civil aviation. The consensus is aimed at addressing the issues that have been raised by major airlines in the United States about subsidy allegations to carriers in the Gulf. Rex Tillerson stated a representative of the Qatari government in the State Department in Washington. The Qatari representative was among a high-level delegation that had been sent to Washington by their government. President Trump admitted that the meeting of the officials from the two countries was a success and that they would provide the global aviation industry with a level playing ground.

The government of Qatar has committed to releasing an audited financial statement for the past fiscal year of the Qatar Airways which is a state-owned corporation. The financial statement is set to shed light on transactions that the company has been involved in and particularly the ones that have been transacted by entities based in Qatar or owned by Qataris. An assurance has been issued to the United States by the government of Qatar that the state-owned airline will do not have plans of operating fifth freedom flights to America. However, Qatar Airways has not issued any guarantees that it won’t operate such plane in the future. Under the Qatar-US Open Skies pact, fifth freedom flights are permitted.

One of the results of the negotiations between the two countries concludes that the United States will not seek to have the open skies agreement re-opened for talks. The US-Qatar accommodation on aviation comes after major American airlines United Airlines and Delta Airlines spent nearly 36 months pushing the American government to take action on what they alleged as illegal subsidies from the Qatar government to the state-owned airline valued at billions of dollars. The allegation was also leveled by the two American airline majors against the United Arab Emirates to Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines.

However, it is not clear whether the US government has made the same agreement with the UAE as the one that was reached between the Qatari government and the US State Department on January 30. Labor groups from the US, United, American and Delta airlines praised the agreement between the US and Qatar as a significant leap forward and said that it takes care of the concerns that they have raised for the last three years.

Published on Wings Journal.

Delta eyes return to Persian Gulf region after US strikes deal with Qatar

January 31, 2018 Aviation Jobs, News No comments

Almost two years after ending flights between Atlanta and Dubai, the CEO of Delta Air Lines says it may be time to return to the Persian Gulf countries.

Ed Bastian told CNBC it’s too soon to predict when resuming flights to parts of the region might happen, but he says it’s a possibility now that the U.S. has negotiated an agreement with the government Qatar that should limit subsidies for Qatar Airways.

“We need to have a presence in the Middle East. We need to have a presence in India and other parts of Southeast Asia, which we have been run out,” Bastian told CNBC. “By shining a light on the scope of the subsidies and providing transparency, it is going to allow us all to make long-term investment decisions to go into markets knowing that our government is standing behind us.”

Delta, along with American Airlines and United Airlines, have complained for years about the expansion of Qatar Airways, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Dubai-based Emirates. The U.S. carriers have said the Persian Gulf airlines are able to undercut competitors and offer flights to the Middle East and elsewhere thanks to an estimated $52 billion in government subsidies. It’s an allegation the Gulf airlines vehemently deny.

So what’s changed?

In February of last year, the U.S. airline CEOs met with President Donald Trump at the White House and asked him to push Middle Eastern carriers to comply with Open Skies agreements designed to ensure all airlines compete on a level playing field. Since that meeting, the State Department, which negotiates Open Skies agreements, has been talking with Qatar government leaders.

“The President has made this matter a priority,” said Rex Tillerson, U.S. Secretary of State. “The outcome we achieved will ensure a level playing field in the global aviation market.”

Next up for Tillerson are talks with Etihad Airways and Emirates. If the State Department can reach a similar agreement, Delta may be ready to once again fly to the region. (Delta already offers service to Israel.)

“While we appreciate the work done with the Qataris, there is another big area that needs focus, which is the UAE and specifically Emirates and Etihad,” said Bastian. “I know those negotiations are starting and we hope the consultations reach a similar conclusion.”

Originally found at: CNBC

Under pressure from US airlines, Qatar Airways agrees to open its books

January 31, 2018 News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

State-controlled Qatar Airways has agreed to disclose financial information within a year, a victory for big U.S. airlines that have complained over the last three years that some Persian Gulf-based carriers benefit from unfair government subsidies.

Under the memorandum of understanding between the Qatari and U.S. governments, Qatar Airways “should issue public annual reports with financial statements audited externally in accordance with internationally-recognized accounting standards, to the extent they are not already doing so,” the State Department said on Tuesday.

Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines have lobbied for a harder line against certain Persian Gulf airlines, including Qatar, for more than three years.

In a January 2015 paper, the Partnership for Open and Fair Skies, a lobbying group representing the three U.S. airlines, said three Middle Eastern carriers — Qatar Airways, Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad — have received more than $40 billion in government subsidies and other “unfair advantages in the last decade alone.”

Delta, which has been vocal against its Middle East rivals, indicated the fight won’t end with the agreement with Qatar.

“Today’s agreement by the State of Qatar is a strong first step in a process for commercial transparency and accountability, and we remain committed to working with the administration to address the harmful trade violations by the United Arab Emirates as well,” Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement.

The State Department said Qatar Airways should disclose that new financial transactions are “based on commercial terms.”

The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies said under the agreement Qatar Airways would refrain from introducing any “fifth-freedom” flights, routes to the U.S. from cities other than its base in Qatar. Emirates operates such flights from the New York area to Milan and Athens.

Qatar Airways declined to comment.

Some U.S. carriers don’t agree with their domestic rivals on the issue. U.S. Airlines for Open Skies, a group that represents JetBlue and FedEx and others, had called rivals’ claims a “political ploy to protect themselves from competition and limit choice for U.S. travelers” last month when the State Department met with U.S. airlines about the issue.

It applauded the Trump administration on Tuesday for maintaining so-called Open Skies agreements that give airlines access to the U.S. market.

Originally found at: CNBC

Qatar Airways agrees to financial disclosures in row with U.S. carriers

January 31, 2018 News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

State-owned Qatar Airways has agreed to release detailed financial statements, the U.S. government said on Tuesday, as part of a response to accusations by U.S. airlines that the carrier had been illegally subsidized by its government.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that Qatar and the United States had opened a “strategic dialogue” to address domestic airlines’ concerns that the three major Gulf carriers had been unfairly propped up by their governments, putting U.S. carriers at a competitive disadvantage.

“The outcome we achieve will ensure a level playing field in the global aviation market,” Tillerson said at a briefing in Washington, alongside Qatari officials.

Qatar is expected to begin publishing its annual financial statements, audited by an outside party, with the first one due over the next year. Within two years, the U.S. State Department said Qatar is expected to also disclose significant new transactions with other state-owned enterprises.

Qatar Airways was not immediately available for comment.

The largest U.S. carriers – American Airlines Group Inc , Delta Air Lines Inc and United Continental Holdings Inc – hailed the move as a victory for the domestic industry, following years of lobbying the federal government to take a tougher stance against the three Gulf carriers for what they say have been illegal state subsidies.

The three Middle Eastern carriers – Qatar Airways, plus United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Airways and Emirates – have denied those accusations.

The U.S. carriers have been pushing the administration of President Donald Trump to take the significant step of challenging the three Gulf carriers’ conduct under its bilateral “Open Skies” agreements, but the administration has said its goal is to maintain the framework of the flight pacts.

The U.S. Airlines for Open Skies Coalition, which includes smaller airlines that campaign against protectionist policies in the industry and has sided with the Gulf carriers in the dispute, also claimed Tuesday’s announcement as a success.

“We appreciate the administration’s strong support for maintaining the global framework of U.S. Open Skies Agreements, which will continue American aviation leadership and economic growth,” said the coalition, which includes FedEx , Atlas Air, JetBlue Airways, and Hawaiian Airlines, in a statement.

Originally found at: Reuters

U.S., Qatar reach agreement in long-running dispute involving Qatar Airways

January 31, 2018 News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

U.S. and Qatar officials have reached an agreement in the three-year dispute about airline subsidies that left factions on both sides claiming victory.

Under the agreement unveiled Tuesday, state-owned Qatar Airways will issue financial statements in the coming year that are audited in accordance with internationally recognized accounting standards. Within two years, Qatar agreed to publicly disclose significant new transactions with other state-owned enterprises such as fuel producers.

“These exchanges address concerns important to U.S. aviation industry stakeholders and strengthen our economic cooperation,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in announcing the deal with Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

“The president has made this matter a priority and the outcome we achieved will ensure a level playing field in the global aviation market.”

A side letter to the agreement states that Qatar’s civilian aviation authority is unaware of any plans to fly to the U.S. from other countries such as in Europe, according to The Associated Press. Emirates’ flights to the U.S. from Milan and Athens have upset U.S. carriers.

But the side letter doesn’t prohibit European flights and doesn’t say whether more flights will arrive directly from Qatar, AP said.

Factions on both sides of the debate found something to like.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said the administration thoughtfully addressed concerns of U.S. carriers about foreign rivals getting illegal subsidies.

“Today’s landmark action will help create a level and fair playing field for American Airlines and other U.S. carriers,” Parker said in a statement. “We are extremely appreciative of the president and his administration for their dogged determination to enforce U.S. trade agreements and stand up for American jobs.”

But other airlines and travel groups had criticized the three largest U.S. airlines for lobbying against more flights between Qatar and U.A.E. as merely trying to reduce competition on lucrative European routes.

“It is only fitting that a political campaign based from the start on a legal fiction supported by blatantly false facts would end with ridiculous claims of victory even when, by the ‘victors’ own definition of success, it was a colossal failure,” Kevin Mitchell, founder of the Business Travel Coalition, said in a statement.

Originally found at: USA Today

State Department Wins Key Victory In Qatar Airline Fight

January 31, 2018 News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

The State Department announced a partial victory in a long-running trade fight with Qatar over alleged violations of the Open Skies treaty.

Qatar agreed to operate with more financial transparency regarding its state-owned airline company Qatari Airways, and has agreed not to run indirect international flights that touch down in another country before continuing on to the U.S.

The decision signals a win in one of the largest ongoing trade battles. The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies, a coalition of American aviation companies including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines, have argued for years that Qatar violated the Open Skies agreement by pumping more than $25 billion into its flagship airline.

Qatar Airways “should issue public annual reports with financial statements audited externally,” the State Department said in a statement announcing the memorandum of understanding Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reached with Qatari delegates. Airlines in Qatar “should publicly disclose significant new transactions with state-owned enterprises and take steps to ensure that such transactions are based on commercial terms,” the memo said.

“The president has made this matter a priority, and the outcome we achieved will ensure a level playing field in the global aviation market,” Tillerson said Tuesday.

Airlines and unions representing pilots and flight attendants praised the agreement as a good sign for transparency, and thanked President Donald Trump and the administration for reaching a deal.

“We are extremely appreciative of the president and his administration for their dogged determination to enforce U.S. trade agreements and stand up for American jobs,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said. “The administration’s actions today thoughtfully address the illegal subsidies received by Qatar Airways, and most importantly, support American workers and closer to home, American Airlines’ 120,000 team members.”

The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies said it will continue to work with the administration to ensure that Qatar lives up to its agreements.

Fair Skies also alleges that the United Arab Emirates have subsidized Emirates and Etihad Airways to the tune of $25 billion, but those airlines are not part of the current deal.

Originally found at: The Daily Caller

Airline executives praise US agreement with Qatar over subsidies

January 31, 2018 News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

Airline executives and labor unions on Tuesday praised the agreement reached between the Trump administration and Qatar aimed at settling a feud over airline subsidies.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian called the agreement “a strong first step in a process for commercial transparency and accountability” while saying the airline will continuing working with the Trump administration “to address the harmful trade violations by the United Arab Emirates.”

“We are grateful to the Trump administration for working to restore a level playing field for the U.S. aviation industry and to the tens of thousands of Delta people who have made their voices heard in an effort to protect millions of American jobs and put an end to unfair competition,” he said.

The CEOs of both American Airlines and United also applauded the agreement, arguing it will protect both U.S. workers and jobs.

Airlines voiced support for the deal after the State Department announced Tuesday that it had reached an agreement with Qatar to address an ongoing dispute about airline subsidies.

Under the arrangement, Qatar will publicly disclose its financial transactions and participate in an external audit in an effort to promote transparency, according to the State Department.

The U.S. aviation industry has for years argued that Qatar’s subsidies to the state-owned Qatar Airways undercuts the international Open Skies Agreement and creates unfair competition.

“Billions of dollars’ worth of subsidies later, it’s nice to know that at least one of the ME3 airlines is maneuvering toward a level playing field,” Captain Dan Care, the president of the Allied Pilots Association, said in a statement Tuesday.

The administration announced the agreement during the U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue meeting between Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and their Qatari counterparts.

“Qatar is a strong partner and a longtime friend of the United States,” Tillerson said. “We value the U.S.-Qatar relationship and hope the talks today deepen our strategic ties.”

The Trump administration late last year resisted calls to crack down on the subsidies, including from lawmakers who urged the administration to alter aviation agreements with Gulf nations that subsidize their state-owned airlines.

The Partnership for Open & Fair Skies, a coalition that represents American, United and Delta, said it would work with the administration to address subsidies that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provides to its two state-owned airlines.

Originally found at: The Hill

USA, Qatar Agree Enforcement of Open Skies Agreement

January 31, 2018 News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

Today, American and Qatari administrations have agreed on the enforcement of the American Open Skies Agreement.

This agreement will benefit American carriers through a level playing field on the competitive front on any services between the mainland United States and Qatar.

American Airlines believes that once the world widely knew the knowledge of state subsidies, the request by the United States government was simple. It was to work with carriers in the Middle Eastern Three (ME3) to enforce a spectrum-wide agreement of the treaty.

Within the agreements between the two administrations, Qatar Airways must adopt “transparent and internationally consistent standards for disclosure and auditing” meaning they have to show all of their ingoings and outgoings. On top of this, they have also agreed not to have any fifth freedom flights (for instance, stopping in Europe to pick up passengers and carry on) going into the United States.

These Fifth Freedom flights are a practice that Emirates has been adopting throughout several destinations. The Dubai-based carrier flies from Dubai to New York, via Milan; or to Newark, via Athens.

This new agreement states that any of Qatar’s flights into the United States must be direct and cannot have any stopping points whatsoever.

American Airlines have praised the move saying that this will helps sustain the 120,000 strong work-force that is based all around the globe.

“Today is an important day, and we commend the Administration for appreciating the urgency of this situation and for its determination to enforce our country’s trade agreements and stand up for American jobs. This effort would not have been possible without the partnerships of our union leaders and partners and so many of our team members. Thank you for joining together making sure your voices were heard. You were an important influencing factor in this positive outcome,” said the airline via an internal memo.

The US State Department is also working with the United Arab Emirates to feasibly reach a far similar agreement with the likes of Emirates and Etihad, looking to establish fairer competition across the two continents.

It will be interesting to see whether Emirates will budge like how Qatar have done. Emirates is a far larger carrier and could require more influencing and more incentivization compared to the likes of Qatar. Emirates will want to capitalize on the stopovers as there is only so much revenue to be made from direct flights.

It could also be an issue for carriers in the Middle East who want to use the stopover points for US Preclearance, as this could now put that at risk.

With President Trump taking a more stricter stance on immigration as well, this could very well coincide with the deals made by the State Department and Qatari officials in maintaining a high level of immigration also.

But for now, this is considered as quite a victory for US carriers as jobs are protected, more “anti-competitive practices” are being removed, which gives those airlines the opportunity to thrive in other destinations, say across Europe, where the stopover points won’t be happening anymore.

Originally found at: Airways Magazine

Qatar to agree to new financial disclosures for state owned-airline: U.S. officials

January 30, 2018 News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

Qatar is expected to agree on Tuesday to release detailed financial information about its state-owned Qatar Airways, U.S. State Department officials said late on Sunday, a move that follows pressure from U.S. airlines for it to disclose any potential subsidies it has received.

Under an understanding to be announced Tuesday, Qatar Airways will issue audited financial reports within a year and within two years must disclose significant new transactions with state-owned enterprises, U.S. officials said.

Qatar Airways and the Qatari government could not immediately be reached late Sunday.

The largest U.S. carriers – American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O), United Continental Holdings Inc (UAL.N) and Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) – since 2015 have urged the U.S. government to challenge the conduct of three major Middle Eastern carriers under “Open Skies” agreements. The U.S. airlines contend the Gulf carriers are being unfairly subsidized by their governments with more than $50 billion in subsidies over the last decade.

Qatar, Etihad Airways and Emirates, have denied those accusations. The Gulf airlines operate around 200 flights per week to 12 U.S. cities.

Qatar and the United States are expected to disclose details of the understanding on aviation issues at a U.S.-Qatar strategic dialogue in Washington on Tuesday that will include U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis, along with senior Qatari officials, U.S. State Department officials said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been made public.

The voluntary agreement follows extensive negotiations with senior U.S. and Qatari officials in recent weeks. Qatar’s Civil Aviation authority told the U.S. government that Qatar Airways has no current plans to offer so-called “fifth freedom flights” that allow an airline to fly between foreign countries as a part of services to and from its home country.

Qatar must take steps to ensure that the transactions are conducted on commercial terms. The disclosures could help U.S. carriers make the case that the airline is getting unfair government subsidies.

The voluntary agreement does not to apply to Etihad or Emirates, both based in the United Arab Emirates. The State Department plans new talks with UAE as early as next week, U.S. officials said.

In a Sept. 14 White House memo disclosed by Reuters and other outlets in December, Trump administration officials agreed the U.S. government “should take action to address the unfair behavior of Gulf carriers.”

U.S. smaller airlines grouped under the U.S. Airlines for Open Skies Coalition said in December it was “confident further investigation by the Trump administration will show the claims for what they are: a political ploy to protect themselves from competition and limit choice for U.S. travelers.”

The coalition represents Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc (AAWW.O), FedEx Corp (FDX.N), Hawaiian Airlines, and JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU.O).

Originally found at: Reuters

Qatar Agrees to Transparency to Resolve U.S. Airline Dispute

January 30, 2018 News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

Qatar Airways will commit to greater financial transparency and will not run any indirect flights to the U.S. through other countries as part of an agreement with the Trump administration addressing U.S. carriers’ accusations that their Gulf competitors get unfair government help.

Airlines are hailing the agreement as a victory, if not a complete one, in one of the biggest trade disputes in U.S. history. They’ve estimated that Qatar gave $17 billion or more to Qatar Airways over a 10-year period.

“This would be a landmark milestone for the American airline industry that will protect our workers and ensure that our foreign competitors play by the rules and do not undermine our international agreements,” said Peter Carter, chief legal officer of Delta Air Lines. “We all support the administration as it holds their feet to the fire to ensure they live up to their commitments.”

Senior State Department officials said that within a year, Qatar Airways will adopt internationally recognized accounting standards, and issue annual reports and audited results, to the extent they’re not already doing so. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will announce the arrangement on Jan. 30, following weeks of negotiation among the State Department, White House and Qatar.

No ‘Fifth Freedom’

Within two years, the airline will disclose any major financial transactions with state enterprises to ensure those are being done on commercial terms, said the officials, who declined to be identified ahead of the official announcement.

Qatar Airways also informed the U.S. that it has no intention, for now, of conducting “Fifth Freedom” flights to the U.S. Under commercial aviation protocols, those flights are ones which start in an airline’s home country and touch down in a different nation before continuing on to a third country — in this case, the U.S.

Tillerson will announce the voluntary agreement when he meets his Qatari counterpart during a U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue, said a senior State Department official who asked not to be identified discussing a deal that hasn’t been publicly announced.

Emirates, Etihad

A white paper issued by U.S. airlines in 2015 said Qatar had given more than $17 billion in subsidies to Qatar Airways, although airlines have since revised upward the estimates for the Gulf carriers — possibly as high as $25 billion.

Emirates and Etihad Airways PJSC, which U.S. airlines claim may have gotten an additional $25 billion in unfair subsidies, aren’t part of the arrangement for now.

Any such cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Qatar has been made far more unlikely after the UAE joined three other nations in a diplomatic and economic blockade of Qatar starting over the summer over accusations that it’s funding terrorist groups.

Qatar’s move on open skies may reflect an effort to curry favor with the Trump administration in the dispute with its Gulf neighbors.

While President Donald Trump initially embraced the assertion by the coalition led by Saudi Arabia that Qatar supported terrorists, Tillerson has steered the administration toward a more even-handed mediation of the dispute. Tillerson had dealings with Qatar when he headed Exxon Mobil Corp.

The administration rejected the chief demand of the U.S. airlines, that any expansion of flights by airlines flagged in Qatar and the UAE be frozen and that the U.S. hold consultations with those countries to discuss possible violations of open-skies agreements.

The government-to-government talks marked a renewed U.S. focus on the airline trade spat, which has been raging for years. Last year, Trump said the Persian Gulf carriers received major government subsidies, without specifying what action he might consider.

President Barack Obama’s administration had been unable to make any progress on the dispute, the officials said.

The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies, which represents Delta Air Lines Inc., United Continental Holdings Inc., American Airlines Group Inc. and airline unions, had earlier said the Gulf carriers are “harming American jobs and the U.S. aviation industry.”

Originally found at: Bloomberg

Trump Strikes Major Victory on Trade: Brings Qatar to Table on Open Skies Agreement

January 29, 2018 News, President Trump No comments

Ensuring that our trade agreements are enforced was a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s campaign in 2016. Now, the President struck a major victory on that front by bringing Qatar to the table and ensuring their compliance with the Open Skies Agreement between our two countries.

BloombergPolitics reports: “Qatar Airways will commit to greater financial transparency and to not run any indirect flights to the U.S. through other countries… .” Greater transparency and the adoption of international norms will help to put an end to the massive subsidization of Qatar Airways by the Qatari government.

This is a great start to trade fairness and the first shot across the bow of the United Arab Emirates who continue to violate their Open Skies Agreement, threatening American jobs, with the heavy subsidization of their airlines, Etihad and Emirates. The world is taking notice that President Trump means business when it comes to taking on trade cheaters.

Published on CNS News.

Breaking News: President Trump and his Administration are Taking Action Against Open Skies Violations

January 29, 2018 News, President Trump, Trade Cheating No comments

Breaking news out of Washington:

An official announcement is coming Tuesday that as a result of the President’s leadership on trade enforcement to safeguard U.S. jobs, the State of Qatar has agreed to end its market distorting subsidies. According to Reuters, “Qatar must take steps to ensure that the transactions are conducted on commercial terms.” This is a major victory for U.S. airlines & their employees who can compete with any airline in the world when the playing field is level.News reports are confirming that the State of Qatar and its state-owned airline, Qatar Airways, will “commit to greater financial transparency and to not run any indirect flights to the U.S. through other countries as part of an agreement with the Trump administration addressing U.S. carriers’ accusations that their Gulf competitors get unfair government help.” (source: Bloomberg Government, Nick Wadhams & Mike Sasso)

Americans for Fair Skies (A4FS) applauds President Trump and his Administration for their steadfast commitment to trade enforcement. The Administration’s decision to set up a framework for accountability shows leadership and vision to create a sustainable path for resolving trade enforcement issues within Open Skies agreements into the future.

According to Peter Carter, the chief legal officer of Delta Air Lines: “This would be a landmark milestone for the American airline industry that will protect our workers and ensure that our foreign competitors play by the rules and do not undermine our international agreements.” (source: Bloomberg Government, Nick Wadhams & Mike Sasso)

As President Trump said last week, “Just like we expect the leaders of other countries to protect their interests, as president of the United States, I will always protect the interests of our country, our companies, and our workers. We will enforce our trade laws and restore integrity to our trading system. Only by insisting on fair and reciprocal trade can we create a system that works not just for the U.S., but for all nations.”

Americans for Fair Skies and the many tens of thousands of aviation workers who have spoken up in support of our effort and have been the backbone of our campaign for fairness, sends its sincere appreciation to President Trump and his Administration for taking meaningful action to end the aviation subsidies by the State of Qatar to its state-owned airline, Qatar Airways.

Expect to hear more from Americans for Fair Skies as additional news about this tremendous progress towards a level playing field in international aviation is released at the official U.S.-Qatari meeting on Tuesday.

Open Skies Roundup

January 19, 2018 News, Trade Cheating No comments

This week, Emirates, an airline owned by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced that it was purchasing 20 more Airbus A380 super jumbo-jets, with the option of purchasing an additional 16. Emirates is already the largest operator of Airbus A380s in the world, by far, with more than 100 of these jets currently in operation. According to one article, “If Emirates signs off on the full deal it will have committed to a total of 178 A380s, or more than half of all orders for the plane worldwide.”

This aircraft order, and the continued expansion that will accompany these new aircraft, defies economics and is further evidence that Emirates is simply a subsidized tool of the UAE government, not a real airline operating with regard to commercial demand.

Recently, Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated about Emirates, “At some point, the economics just don’t make sense and they’ll need to evaluate for themselves how much growth they can add through Dubai to build the world’s super-connector airport.”

The most recent “Air Passenger Market Analysis” from the International Air Transportation Association confirmed the disturbing predatory behavior of the Middle Eastern airlines, particularly Emirates, who are continuing to add capacity (more planes and more seats into markets), while at the same time flying airplanes with more empty seats (30% unsold – which without subsidies is not possible) than anywhere else in the world. With no regard for actually earning a profit and continuing to expand without market demand, the Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates are engaged in unfair competition, distorting the marketplace, and depriving U.S. airlines and their employees of the right to fair competition set forth in the Open Skies agreements held with the UAE and Qatar.

We’ve spent a lot of time fact-checking and myth-busting opponents of Open Skies enforcement. This includes the organization known as US Travel Association, which does not actually represent any U.S. airlines. The ironically named US Travel is taking money from the United Arab Emirates – state-owned Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways are members of US Travel – to oppose Open Skies enforcement. That is a flagrant foul for an association that claims to represent the interests of the United States, and some have alleged that it may even be a violation of federal law.

Recently, others have been fact-checking US Travel too, as they continue their aggressive campaign against American workers. Read one example for yourself in the recent Breitbart story titled: “NeverTrumpers Pushing Trump Administration to Ignore ‘Open Skies’ Trade Violations by Foreign Nations.”

Delta CEO Ed Bastian recently stated, “We’ve had 300 members of Congress who have written in and asked for this matter to be formally investigated on a bipartisan basis. To get 300 members of Congress to agree to anything tells you the importance of this matter to our people.” Bastian added. “I think a resolution will come at some point.” Americans for Fair Skies agrees.

President Trump has made trade enforcement a priority, and his team is taking initial steps to address the market-distorting subsidies by the UAE and State of Qatar to their three airlines. We are confident that further progress on Open Skies enforcement will be made soon, which will help restore market balance, safeguard U.S. jobs, and protect the integrity of the 120+ Open Skies agreements with other nations that are not being violated.

To learn how you can get involved by donating or taking action, visit us online at fairskies.org, on Facebook or on Twitter.

BUSINESS INSIDER: Delta’s CEO says the nastiest rivalry in the airline industry is more complex than people think

January 18, 2018 News, Trade Cheating No comments

The on-going feud between America’s three major legacy airlines and their three Middle Eastern rivals has been one of biggest stories in aviation over the past few years.

From the beginning, American, Delta, and United (US3) have accused Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways (ME3) of using $50 billion worth of unfair subsidies to squeeze competition out of markets by lowering prices to unsustainably low levels.

The US3 believes these alleged subsidies are in violation of the OpenSkies agreement that governs air travel between the US and the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The Middle Eastern carriers have denied these allegations.

But, in recent months, political instability; failed investments; and a depressed oil economy have forced the Middle Eastern carriers to show more discipline when it comes to spending money.

For instance, Emirates cut the number of flights to the US in the face of reduced demand while Etihad has been forced to shake up its entire senior management team after losing billions of dollars due to poor performing investments.

In other words, these Middle Eastern carriers are making moves characteristic of profit-minded businesses.

But that’s not enough to convince one of their toughest critics, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian.

Even though Bastian said he doesn’t believe they are profit-minded enterprises, the Delta CEO is quick to note that the Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways are anything but a monolith.

“I’m not sure they’re all the same,” Bastian told Business Insider in a recent interview. “I think there are three different business models between the three. We have to be careful we don’t to group them together.”

That’s certainly the case. Even though the ME3 are often presented as a unified front, they are anything but. Emirates and Etihad are neighbors separated by less than an hour’s drive, but they are rivals fighting to be the main airline in the United Arab Emirates. And while both seem to get along with the Qatar Airways, political strife between the UAE and Qatar prevent Emirates and Etihad from having a closer relationship with the airline.

Etihad’s investments have failed

“Etihad is in a very difficult spot,” Bastian said. “Their investments in Air Berlin, Alitalia, and a few others have turned out to be dismal failures.”

Alitalia declared bankruptcy in May after years of financial losses but is expected to survive in some form. Air Berlin followed Alitalia into bankruptcy in August with its assets sold to off to Lufthansa and others.

In mid-2017, Etihad announced losses totaling $1.87 billion in 2016. Much of which was attributed to its investments in two ailing European carriers.

According to Bastian, of the 75 largest airlines in the world, Air Berlin and Alitalia are the two worst performers financially.

“I think they are regrouping and reassessing,” Bastian added.

This month, Tony Douglas joined Etihad Aviation Group as its CEO after the company’s previous chief executive, James Hogan, left last May.

Emirates expansion doesn’t make economic sense

“Emirates just purchased and acquired their 100th Airbus A380 and they are building an airport in Dubai that’s four-time or five times the size of Chicago O’Hare,” Bastian said incredulously.

“At some point, the economics just don’t make sense and they’ll need to evaluate for themselves how much growth they can add through Dubai to build the world’s super-connector airport.”

In addition, Bastian questioned the economic viability of Emirates’ massive fleet of Airbus superjumbos.

“The A380 has, I’ll be honest with you, not been a wildly successful airplane given that (Emirates) is the only operator,” the Delta CEO said. “Most operators I’ve talked to about the A380 are not thrilled with the performance given the cost.”

Qatar Airways is just a government agency

“And Qatar Airways is just a government agency that bleeds money,” Bastian told us. “If you look at their financial results, they weren’t the worst performing airline in the world, Alitalia and Air Berlin were worse than them. Qatar was third.”

According to Bastian, the only reason Qatar Airways avoided finding themselves at atop the list of the worst financial performers was due to subsidies like cost-free ownership of duty-free licenses and the hotel franchises in Qatar.

“It’s a ruse,” he added.

Bastian also pointed out that Qatar Airways is going around buying up equity stakes in foreign airlines while suffering through a costly blockade put in place by its neighbors in the Persian Gulf.

“Now Qatar is buying Cathay Pacific, but where is that money coming from?” Bastian questioned. “It’s coming from their government.”

Delta believes there is a resolution to the conflict coming

“I can tell you everyone we’ve talked to in Washington is concerned,” Bastin said. “We’ve had 300 members of Congress who have written in and asked for this matter to be formally investigated on a bipartisan basis.”

“To get 300 members of Congress to agree to anything tells you the importance of this matter to our people,” he added. “I think a resolution will come at some point.”

However, Bastian noted that Delta can’t simply depend on the US Government to take on the ME3.

“We can’t put our competition solely in the hands of Washington, we have to compete in the marketplace,” the Delta CEO said. “That’s why we are continuing to invest in our international fleet with the new Airbus A350s while working hard with our partners to invest and to improve the quality of service together.”

In addition, Bastian noted his airline’s joint ventures with Air France-KLM in Europe and Korean Air in Asia as major pieces in Delta’s strategy to compete on the global stage.

“There are many components to this strategy far and above this battle in Washington,” Bastian told us.

Originally found at: businessinsider.com

Trade cheating in the Middle East

January 16, 2018 News, Trade Cheating No comments

Last month, President Trump laid out his foreign policy doctrine in a speech that emphasized economic security as a key piece of America’s national security policy. He called for “trade based on the principles of fairness and reciprocity” and “firm action against unfair trade practices.”

The administration has already correctly identified one of the most rampant trade abuses our country faces: relentless trade-cheating by Middle Eastern countries that violate their Open Skies agreements. Now, it must ensure that more than a million American jobs are not threatened due to the actions of these countries.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar blatantly violated their agreements with the U.S. by providing their state-owned airlines — Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways — with over $50 billion in government subsidies. Open Skies agreements are bilateral treaties that the U.S. enters into with other countries to allow airlines from both countries to fly back and forth without restrictions.

The United States has these agreements with over 120 countries around the world, nearly all of which are being followed and enforced as written. There are only two countries that are violating them and threatening American jobs: the UAE and Qatar.

When I served as secretary of Transportation during the Reagan administration, the president understood that the United States’ economic and national security were inextricably linked, and his policies reflected that. Mr. Trump’s vision for America’s foreign policy in 2017 is similar to what President Reagan’s was in 1987: one that promotes free markets and American businesses abroad, while preserving fair and open trade that protects American workers.

The Gulf airlines’ billions in unfair government subsidies infringe upon these principles. They massively skew the international aviation market, making it harder for U.S. airlines to compete on a level playing field.

By not facing the same market pressures as their global competitors, the Gulf carriers have been able to expand the number of routes they fly and the frequency with which they fly them without any regard for consumer demand. U.S. airlines have struggled to compete with the artificially low prices and have been forced out of markets as a result. For example, U.S. airlines have cut back on non-stop flights to India because they do not have the massive subsidies propping them up that the Gulf airlines do.

The U.S. aviation industry supports over 1.2 million American jobs that are threatened by every trade-cheating action taken by the Gulf carriers and their government sponsors. When a U.S. airline has to end a route because a Gulf airline takes it over, 1,500 American jobs are lost. Not only does this hurt airline workers and their families, but also the communities where they live and the local businesses they support.

The subsidies pose a far bigger threat to the U.S. economy than just a few additional foreign airline routes here and there. Our government must enforce our Open Skies agreements and end these practices at once.

U.S. airline employees have received broad support for this cause. Over 310 current members of Congress have written letters to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao calling on the administration to enforce our Open Skies agreements with the UAE and Qatar. This is in addition to numerous state and local business leaders who have done the same with the recognition that continued Gulf airline subsidies will lead to harmful effects for their local economies.

In his first year alone, Mr. Trump has taken on the UAE, Qatar and their subsidized airlines in order to protect American workers and their jobs. This act of leadership was sorely needed after years of delay, fumbling and inaction by the Obama administration. The Trump administration’s work to address these trade violations against the United States is consistent with Mr. Reagan’s policies promoting free, but fair, trade.

• James H. Burnley IV was the U.S. secretary of Transportation under President Ronald Reagan. He is a partner at Venable LLP and an adviser to American Airlines.

Originally Published on The Washington Times.

A Need to Protect Against Unfair Competition in Open Skies Was Envisioned and Enforcement Was Intended

January 11, 2018 News, Trade Cheating No comments

In most U.S. trade agreements, it is understood that language is required to protect against unfair competition. As such, language is included in these agreements that establishes expectations around competition practices and provides avenues of recourse if these expectations are not met by the parties to the agreement. This is the case for the trade agreements used to govern international aviation with the United States, called Open Skies agreements. Within the Open Skies agreement framework, specific language exists outlining expectations around fair competition and providing avenues for enforcement action should the agreement be violated by either party.

These provisions exist in every Open Skies agreement the U.S. holds with a foreign country.

Historically, Open Skies agreements have worked well for the U.S. and its trade partners. For the first time, however, a need to utilize the methods of redress set forth in the Open Skies agreements needs to be applied and acted upon to correct gross violations by two nations who are deliberately exploiting the benefits of the Open Skies agreements they enjoy with the United States to undermine competition and unfairly position the market in favor of their state-owned airlines.

President Trump has made trade enforcement a priority of his administration and has already taken initial steps on enforcement to address the market-distorting subsidies by the UAE and State of Qatar to their three airlines. We are confident that further progress on Open Skies enforcement will be made soon, which will safeguard U.S. jobs, help restore market balance and fairness, and protect the integrity of the 100+ Open Skies agreements with other nations that are not being violated.

The case for further enforcement action by President Trump is clear:

Two Gulf nations, the United Arab Emirates and State of Qatar, have been illegally subsidizing their three state-owned airlines, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways (ME3), for more than a decade. With more than $52 billion combined in subsidies from their governments, the three airlines have engaged in predatory expansion, unchecked by market demands. Their subsidized growth has upended the international aviation marketplace, depriving U.S. airlines and their employees of their right to “fair and equal opportunity” as demanded by the U.S. Open Skies trade agreements with both the UAE and Qatar.

The “Fair Competition” clause was included in the Open Skies agreements with all nations who enjoy their benefits, including the UAE and Qatar, with the understanding that one day, if the framework stopped working because competition might be found to be unfair by one party or the other, there was a clear path towards finding a resolution. Specifically, this “Fair Competition” clause (Article 11) demands that frequency and capacity be determined “based upon commercial considerations in the marketplace.” As noted, airlines are to be allowed “fair and equal opportunity” to compete. This is no longer the case for U.S. airlines, which are being forced off of international routes, or are forgoing expansion opportunities, due to the seat dumping by the ME3. With each daily international route lost or forgone by a U.S. carrier as a result of these predatory practices, there is a net loss of 1,500 U.S. jobs.

The most recent “Air Passenger Market Analysis” from the International Air Transportation Association confirms the disturbing predatory behavior of the Middle Eastern airlines continuing to add capacity (more planes and more seats into markets), while at the same time flying airplanes with more empty seats (30% unsold – which without subsidies is not possible) than anywhere else in the world. With no regard for actually earning a profit, the ME3 are engaged in unfair competition, distorting the marketplace, and depriving U.S. airlines and their employees of their right to fair competition set forth in the Open Skies agreements held with the UAE and Qatar. The case for enforcement action by President Trump is therefore simple: Fair competition is no longer possible; therefore Article 11 of the Open Skies agreements is being violated by both the UAE and Qatar.

Furthermore, Article 12 of both Open Skies agreements contains a provision allowing parties to intervene in the Open Skies agreements to allow for “protection of airlines from prices that are artificially low due to direct or indirect government subsidy or support.” As demonstrated by the facts of the case, it is clear that these three Gulf airlines – Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways – continue to artificially lower their prices and dump seats into markets without regard to demand or earning a profit. The billions in subsidies all three airlines have each received allows this predatory behavior to occur in violation of Open Skies. This unfair competition – possible only “due to direct or indirect government subsidy or support” is a violation of Article 12 of the Open Skies agreements by both the UAE and Qatar. This too is another clear reason President Trump can and will take enforcement action with the UAE and Qatar.

The language on unfair competition and subsidies in the Open Skies agreements for both the United Arab Emirates and State of Qatar is clear. The violations by the UAE and Qatar are obvious. President Trump has made trade enforcement a priority and the American aviation workers are counting on him to take further action to safeguard U.S. jobs and restore market fairness in international aviation by enforcing the Open Skies agreements with the UAE and Qatar.

As Trump Moves Towards Open Skies Enforcement, ME3 Attacks Airline Employees

January 10, 2018 Aviation Jobs, News, Trade Cheating No comments

As we’ve explained before, those who are against enforcing Open Skies trade agreements know that they are on the wrong side of the facts. Theharm resulting from the seat dumping by Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways (ME3), fueled by more than $52 billion in subsidies from their government owners, is real. The subsidies are proven. And because of the strength of our case, opponents of Open Skies enforcement are desperate to change the story, misdirect, and muddy the narrative around what is really happening as a result of the subsidies undermining Open Skies.

One such desperate tactic has been to attack U.S. airlines and their employees. This approach is not only undignified, it is dishonest. It’s become the go-to approach for a number of groups opposing Open Skies enforcement on behalf of the ME3, including the ironically named U.S. Travel Association, which represents the United Arab Emirates’ state-owned Emirates and Etihad, but no U.S. airlines, and the so-called Business Travel Coalition, a for-profit entity with a history of misrepresenting its membership and seemingly run by a sole individual.

U.S. international airlines and their employees are investing in improving customer service and customers are seeing the results. Further, U.S. airlines are partnering with President Trump to keep U.S. aviation at the forefront of global aviation. This partnership will result in more American jobs, world-class U.S. airports, and unparalleled global connectivity that will support the economic growth of the United States.

It was recently announced by Flight Global, an aviation technology and data service company, that Delta Airlines was the “world’s most on-time airline.” Remarkably, Delta’s on-time arrival rate was nearly 86%. Impressive by any standard, but particularly for a global airline of Delta’s size. The announcement is a testament to the hard work of Delta’s more than 80,000 employees, who are putting customers and safety first.

American Airlines and United Airlines are similarly disproving the rhetoric of opponents of Open Skies enforcement with continued customer-service investments and enhancements. United has recently launched a number of new domestic routes connecting smaller airports with its larger hubs. These domestic routes are dependent on feed traffic from international routes that flow through the hub airports. Without international traffic, domestic traffic, especially to smaller airports typically in rural areas, falls off. American Airlines recently gave each of its non-executive employees a bonus as a result of the federal tax code overhaul, an investment in its employees that will result in improved customer service.

All three airlines are actively working to improve the entire customer experience through investments in technology, onboard services, food, and amenities, and airport infrastructure.

In another example of Delta’s employee’s superior customer service, in November of last year, over the demanding Thanksgiving travel period, Delta flew the entire month with no mainline cancellations, setting a company record. Gil West, Delta’s Chief Operating Officer stated, “Our employees are steadfastly committed to delivering on Delta’s promise to be a safe and reliable airline and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made to offer our customers an industry-leading global operation.”

Despite the efforts of Open Skies opponents to build a false narrative aimed at distorting the facts to the contrary, U.S. airline employees are delivering for customers like never before, and customers are benefiting from safe and reliable service. As U.S. airlines continue to invest in their customers through innovation and employees investments, raising the standards for air travel, it is a win-win for travelers and airline employees.

All of these gains, however, are at risk by the predatory practices of the UAE and State of Qatar and their government airlines. If we are going to ensure that U.S. and global travelers can continue to count on a reliable air transportation network, it is imperative the rules governing international aviation are enforced.

The Trump Administration has taken initial steps towards enforcing the Open Skies agreements with the UAE and State of Qatar, and is to be commended for leadership on trade enforcement. In 2018, we are confident that further progress on Open Skies enforcement will be made, which will help restore market balance, safeguard U.S. jobs, and protect the integrity of the 100+ Open Skies agreements with other nations that are not being violated.

Open Skies 2018

January 3, 2018 News No comments

As we enter into a new year, it is important to reflect on where we stand in the ongoing fight for Open Skies enforcement.