Reiterates Call to Open Consultations On Open Skies Agreements With UAE, Qatar

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) has launched its new “A Deal Is A Deal” advertising campaign, which urges the Obama Administration to request consultations with the governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar to address the unfair subsidies and benefits provided to their state-owned airline carriers.

The ad campaign – which includes print and digital ads and #ADealIsADeal social media effort – will run through October. The campaign will also feature billboards at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport during September.

For the past 10 years, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates have received more than $42 billion in unfair subsidies and benefits from the governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, distorting the global aviation marketplace. The subsidies are in violation of existing Open Skies agreements that the United States has with these two countries.  Against the backdrop of the new campaign, ALPA has called on the Administration to support its efforts to stop three Middle East airlines from violating U.S. Open Skies agreements and putting U.S. aviation jobs at risk.
 
“Open Skies only works when all countries play by the same rules, and most countries do just that,” said ALPA President Capt. Tim Canoll. “Unfortunately, Qatar and the UAE are breaking the Open Skies agreements by pumping billions of dollars in government subsidies and unfair benefits into their state owned carriers in an effort to dominate global aviation. Now that the government docket is closed, it’s time for the Obama Administration to address the subsidies that are putting tens of thousands of American aviation jobs at risk.”
 
This violation of these international agreements threatens the careers of thousands of highly trained U.S. pilots and others in the aviation industry.  ALPA has joined with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines as well as other labor unions to urge the Obama Administration to request consultations with Qatar and the UAE immediately to address the massive subsidies these Mideast carriers receive. In addition, ALPA has urged the administration to request a freeze on current passenger service by these airlines while consultations are under way.

(Image provided by ALPA)

FMI: www.alpa.org