Labor Unions and U.S. Airlines Set Aside Differences to Attack Gulf Carriers


Skift Take

The selective outrage is cynical at best.

The Open Skies fight by American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines against Gulf carrier rivals Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad has produced some strange bedfellows. Most notably Airports Council International—North America and the U.S. Travel Association have come out in favor of the Gulf carriers, the latter's CEO Roger Dow stating last week "We wish we did not have to stand apart from our friends in the airline industry on this or any other issue." Realizing that they're losing the public relations war, the carriers have turned to sometime antagonists, sometime rivals in labor unions. Yesterday, leaders of the Association of Flight Attendants, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the Communications Workers of America, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters issued a letter [in full, below] arguing that USTA's position is an attack on workers' rights that actively supports discrimination, and called on the group's board members at American Express, Google Travel, Hyatt Hotels, and Disney Destinations to take a stand. "Employees of these airlines aren't granted fundamental human rights that are enjoyed by most workers in today’s world," the letter states. These four unions, as well as the Air Line P