The Partnership for Open & Fair Skies has published a collection of financial records gathered during a two-year global investigation into the multi-billion dollar subsidies provided by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates.
The Partnership represents the commercial interests of U.S. carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines as they seek to demonstrate that government support for Gulf carriers creates unfair competition under the Open Skies agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
“With the U.S. government now examining the Gulf carriers’ subsidies, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates should disclose their finances and provide the same level of transparency that U.S. airlines make available,” said Jill Zuckman, chief spokesperson for the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies.
To substantiate their claims, American, Delta and United conducted an extensive international search for documents related to state support for the Gulf carriers. That effort produced hundreds of pages of financial statements, charter records and other corporate documents obtained from registry offices and public filings in countries where the Gulf carriers operate.
The investigation covered nearly 30 jurisdictions across Africa, Asia and Australia and uncovered important financial information from sources in Singapore, Australia, India, Belgium, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom.
The records released this week underpin the Partnership’s white paper, Restoring Open Skies: The Need to Address Subsidized Competition from State-Owned Airlines in Qatar and the U.A.E., which was published earlier this year.