US: Feud over Middle Eastern airlines reaches new extremes
A years-old dispute over whether to impose restrictions on 3 Middle Eastern airlines that fly into the US has reached a new extreme: criminal allegations. A coalition of US-based airlines are taking shots at the US Travel Assn., the nation’s largest travel trade group, which has opposed restrictions on the Middle Eastern carriers. The coalition accused the trade group this week of failing to register as a lobbyist for a foreign agent because Emirates and Etihad became 2 of the US Travel Assn.’s 1,200 members this year and paid a combined US$330,000 in membership fees. “Despite claiming to represent the American travel industry, the US Travel Assn. is promoting the interests of the United Arab Emirates by lobbying on behalf of Emirates and Etihad Airways,” said a spokeswoman for the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies. <br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2017-06-12/general/us-feud-over-middle-eastern-airlines-reaches-new-extremes
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US: Feud over Middle Eastern airlines reaches new extremes
A years-old dispute over whether to impose restrictions on 3 Middle Eastern airlines that fly into the US has reached a new extreme: criminal allegations. A coalition of US-based airlines are taking shots at the US Travel Assn., the nation’s largest travel trade group, which has opposed restrictions on the Middle Eastern carriers. The coalition accused the trade group this week of failing to register as a lobbyist for a foreign agent because Emirates and Etihad became 2 of the US Travel Assn.’s 1,200 members this year and paid a combined US$330,000 in membership fees. “Despite claiming to represent the American travel industry, the US Travel Assn. is promoting the interests of the United Arab Emirates by lobbying on behalf of Emirates and Etihad Airways,” said a spokeswoman for the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies. <br/>
