Kalamazoo Gazette: Persian Gulf airline policies harmful for Kalamazoo
"Evidence gathered during a global, two-year long investigation conducted by a coalition of U.S. airlines has revealed that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), both of which have Open Skies agreements with the United States, have provided at least $42 billion in massive subsidies and other unfair benefits to their state-owned airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline.
Since 1992, the United States has signed more than 100 agreements with other countries with the goal of preventing exactly this type of situation. Known as "Open Skies" agreements, they work to modernize air travel, remove protectionist air transit policies by state-owned carriers, prevent undue government intervention, and ease military and diplomatic travel between nations.
Open Skies agreements level the playing field, increase choices for consumers, improve international commerce and trade, and make it easier for people to move about the world."