U.S. Airlines Say Gulf Rivals Grab Traffic Without Adding More - Bloomberg Business

U.S. Airlines Say Gulf Rivals Grab Traffic Without Adding More - Bloomberg Business:



"Persian Gulf carriers expanding rapidly in the U.S. are diverting passengers from Delta, American and United instead of attracting new travelers as they have said, according to a study by a group representing the U.S. airlines.



The loss of those customers is a key argument of the U.S. carriers in their claims that Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways Ltd., and Etihad Airways PJSC are using $42 billion in government subsidies to compete unfairly. All three gulf carriers have repeatedly denied the accusations.



Chief Executive Officers from Delta, American, and United are appearing Friday in Washington to press their view that their Gulf rivals are using discount connections through their hubs in the Middle East to win international traffic. The U.S. airlines want the Obama administration to block those carriers from adding new flights pending the outcome of talks on modifying Open Skies agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates."



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