The head of the trade union representing pilots of US carriers including American Airlines has called on their Gulf rivals to ‘open their books’ amid a row over allegations of unfair competition leveled at Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Top executives from Etihad and Emirates are in Washington on Tuesday to respond to the campaign against them. “The massive government subsidies that have flowed to these Gulf carriers have tilted the playing field, posing a serious threat to US jobs and the long-term viability of our nation’s airline industry,” captain Keith Wilson, president of the Allied Pilots Association said in a statement.
“It’s time for Gulf carriers to open the books,” he added.
Gulf carriers have refuted these allegations, saying that US airlines are losing market share, because their service is not competitive.
In a 55-page document presented in January, airlines Delta, United and American alleged that Etihad, Emirates and Qatar have enjoyed unfair financial benefits over the past decade in contravention of the rules of the open skies agreement, in an effort to win the regulators’ support for a change to the terms of the deal. James Hogan, the Etihad chief executive, and Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, are both in the US capital to argue their case that claims made against them are without foundation.
They will also meet government transport officials to urge the US administration to resist calls by the US carriers to pull back from agreements on the liberalisation of air travel.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
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Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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