Gulf carriers have leveraged billions in subsidies to flood international markets and undercut fair competition around the world

Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2015) – Today, Air Canada announced it would oppose any efforts by the Canadian government to allow additional flights by Emirates Airline or Etihad Airways into Canada, saying the market between countries is already at capacity. In response to this announcement, Jill Zuckman, chief spokesperson for the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies, released the following statement:

“Air Canada knows what the rest of the world is already experiencing: The heavily subsidized Gulf carriers don’t play by the rules, flood the marketplace and undermine fair competition. Until the United Arab Emirates and Qatar stop subsidizing their state-owned airlines in violation of Open Skies policies, governments around the world will rightly be reluctant to give them additional access to their markets. It’s time for the Obama administration to wake up to this blatant violation of its bilateral agreements and request consultations with the UAE and Qatar. American jobs depend upon it.”