U.S. Airlines Promise to Get More Aggressive Towards Gulf Carrier Rivals
Skift Take
Unless the U.S. government curtails competition from Gulf carriers, U.S. airlines just can't compete. That is the argument that American's Scott Kirby is making. It seems ironic coming so soon after a mega-airline merger that was supposed to put the airline on firm competitive footing.
U.S. airlines are going to get "a lot more aggressive" about pressing their argument that Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad are competing unfairly by being subsidized by their governments, said American Airlines Group president Scott Kirby.
In fact, American, United and Delta have identified "north of $40 billion" in subsidies that the Gulf carriers have secured and have hired a forensic accountant to identify other such funding, Kirby said.
Kirby spoke at the J.P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation and Industrials Conference in New York City March 3,
Here's what Kirby said in response to a question from an a
