Washington, D.C. (March 9, 2016) – In response to Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker’s comments that he is launching a new Atlanta route on June 1 in order to, “rub salt in the wounds [of Delta],” the Partnership for Open and Fair Skies Chief Spokesperson Jill Zuckman issued the following statement:

“Mr. Al Baker has made it crystal clear that the subsidies his airline receives from the government of Qatar allow him to fly routes for the sake of petty peevishness rather than rational, market-based reasoning. Of course, with $17.5 billion in subsidies, Mr. Al Baker can choose to fly anywhere, anytime – even if his flights lose money and make no economic sense. The truth is, Qatar Airways is expanding at an inordinate rate because of the market-distorting buckets of cash it receives each year. And that’s why U.S. airlines and pilots, flight attendants and other American aviation professionals can’t afford to have the Obama administration sit on the sidelines while the Gulf carriers violate our international agreements and take away American jobs.”