Washington, D.C. (June 7, 2016) – Today, the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies praised the Council of the European Union’s mandate allowing the European Commission to open negotiations on comprehensive air transport agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The negotiations, first announced in late 2015, would seek to “establish a level playing field” and likely address the billions of dollars in unfair subsidies that Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways receive from their government owners. Jill Zuckman, chief spokesperson for the Partnership, released the following statement:

“The E.U. has felt firsthand the devastating impact that the subsidy-fueled Persian Gulf airlines’ rapid expansion has had on European aviation markets, just as we’ve experienced here in the U.S. We applaud the Council of the European Union for taking an important step to address the Gulf carrier subsidies that are distorting the marketplace, forcing route cancellations and threatening jobs across the world. It’s time to put a stop to these massive subsidies once and for all and level the playing field for airlines and their workers across the globe.”