Gulf ‘Open Skies’

The verbal exchange between the US and the major Gulf area airlines continues.
   
A UAE spokesman said it is "happy to talk" to the United States about alleged state according to Gulf News.

The remarks follow an escalating campaign by some US parties to vary the long-standing arrangement.

"We are happy to talk... But right now I don't think the governments should do anything.  I think the governments should really commit to their Open Sky policies," said Laila Ali Bin Hareb Al Muhairi, Assistant Director-General at the General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE.

US airlines and unions have alleged that Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have received more than US$40bn in state subsidies.

Al Muhairi said the subsidy claims were "not based on any substantial information" and added that the US had yet to raise these issues with the UAE.  The Gulf carriers have denied the allegations and say US airlines are losing market share because of their inferior service.

A spokesman for the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies, a lobby group of US airlines and unions, said: "We look forward to those consultations taking place and hope that the government of Qatar will also be willing to engage the US government in similar talks."   www.openandfairskies.com

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