US: Lawmakers to suggest path to defuse US-Gulf airline spat
US airlines have spent three years pleading for federal action to curb fast-growing Persian Gulf carriers, claiming their rivals benefit from billions of dollars in unfair government aid. But now, a group of lawmakers is offering a more modest solution: vetting those claims through a decades-old DoT process created to prevent foreign governments from meddling in airline competition. Sending the dispute to DOT would be a way to defuse the longstanding dispute and preserve ties with the growing tourist and commercial hubs, they say. Under the 1974 law, US transportation officials have six months to decide whether a claim merits federal action. That is the proper channel to evaluate claims against Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, the lawmakers say in a letter they are circulating that will be sent to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. It’s the latest development in a more than two-year quest by Delta, American Airlines and United Continental, the three largest US-based carriers, to combat what they say is tens of billions of dollars in subsidies that have flowed to the Gulf carriers from the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. A decision reached under the law would allow Congress and the White House "to develop a fact-based response" to the allegations, "rather than responding to the politically-charged rhetoric," said the letter, drafted by Tennessee Republican David Kustoff and so far signed by 13 other GOP lawmakers and two Democrats. An advocacy group for biggest US carriers sees it differently. Story has more details.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2017-12-01/general/us-lawmakers-to-suggest-path-to-defuse-us-gulf-airline-spat
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US: Lawmakers to suggest path to defuse US-Gulf airline spat
US airlines have spent three years pleading for federal action to curb fast-growing Persian Gulf carriers, claiming their rivals benefit from billions of dollars in unfair government aid. But now, a group of lawmakers is offering a more modest solution: vetting those claims through a decades-old DoT process created to prevent foreign governments from meddling in airline competition. Sending the dispute to DOT would be a way to defuse the longstanding dispute and preserve ties with the growing tourist and commercial hubs, they say. Under the 1974 law, US transportation officials have six months to decide whether a claim merits federal action. That is the proper channel to evaluate claims against Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, the lawmakers say in a letter they are circulating that will be sent to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. It’s the latest development in a more than two-year quest by Delta, American Airlines and United Continental, the three largest US-based carriers, to combat what they say is tens of billions of dollars in subsidies that have flowed to the Gulf carriers from the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. A decision reached under the law would allow Congress and the White House "to develop a fact-based response" to the allegations, "rather than responding to the politically-charged rhetoric," said the letter, drafted by Tennessee Republican David Kustoff and so far signed by 13 other GOP lawmakers and two Democrats. An advocacy group for biggest US carriers sees it differently. Story has more details.<br/>
