Illegal Subsidies and Other Unfair Benefits to Gulf Airlines Violate Open Skies Policies and Put Thousands of California Aviation Jobs at Risk

Oakland, Calif. (August 19, 2015) – Pilots, flight attendants and other aviation personnel gathered today at Oakland International Airport to call on the Obama Administration to level the playing field for U.S. airlines and American workers. Over the past decade Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have provided more than $42 billion in subsidies and unfair benefits to their state-owned airlines, in violation of Open Skies policy.

“Our flight attendants have proven time and time again that we can compete in the global aviation market,” said Stan Kiino, a flight attendant with The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “However, our airlines shouldn’t be forced to compete with unlimited blank checks from the treasuries of wealthy nations. This is a very serious threat to aviation professionals throughout California and the U.S.”

“The U.S. has 115 Open Skies agreements that work and only 2 that don’t,” said Captain Tom Murphy, a pilot with Air Line Pilots Association, International. “We are simply asking the U.S. government to enforce existing trade agreements and preserve the foundation of fair competition – on which Open Skies agreements are built – so American businesses and workers are on a level playing field with their global competitors.”

In a press conference today, union leaders representing hundreds of thousands of American airline workers urged the Obama Administration to open consultations with Qatar and the UAE to address the massive subsidies given to Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates in the last decade. Thirty-seven Members of California’s Congressional delegation, and dozens of local California officials, mayors, regional airports, and business and labor organizations have called on the Obama Administration to take swift action to ensure that all airlines are adhering to the spirit of Open Skies policies.

“The Gulf carriers pose a severe threat to flight attendant jobs throughout California. These Middle Eastern airlines receive billions of dollars in subsidies from their governments, which distort the aviation marketplace, undermine competition and cost American jobs,” said David Adair of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. “We need the Obama Administration to stand up for workers and seek consultations with Qatar and the UAE immediately to ensure that all airlines can compete on a level playing field.”

“More than 10,500 aviation jobs in the Bay Area, and 22,000 throughout California, are at risk from the Gulf carriers as they flood the market with huge airplanes and divert passengers from U.S. airlines.,” said Captain Chip Hancock, a pilot with the Southwest Airlines’ Pilots Association. “I am proud to join my fellow airline workers to call on the U.S. government to address the unfair subsidies so our airlines can continue providing communities across the country the vital air service they rely on.”

Earlier this month, the U.S. government closed its docket for public comment on the issue. Two-thirds of the comments voiced concern for the harmful Gulf carrier subsidies and called on the Administration to act. Support for the U.S. aviation industry included letters from 21 U.S. Senators; 262 members from the U.S. House of Representatives; the U.S. Conference of Mayors, representing 1,400 mayors across the country; 30 local and regional airports; aviation industry experts and dozens of local business, trade and economic groups.