“The airlines, which historically have pushed for market liberalization, are taking the unusual step of asking the Obama administration to meet with Qatar and UAE to resolve the dispute. Their concern is that continued state support of the Persian Gulf airlines will take a hard toll on U.S. carriers. Their unions have joined the fight over a concern about jobs: United employs more than 10,000 workers in the Bay Area alone.

It seems that a frank conversation — leading to a retreat from the staggering level of subsidies from Qatar and the UAE — would be in order.”

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