Skift Take
Delta, United, and American wanted the U.S. State Department to take unprecedented action against Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways. But the government didn't opt for a brash approach. This may well be the beginning of the end of the complaints.
In a potential blow to United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines, the U.S. State Department is not expected to seek official consultations with the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to discuss whether Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways have unfair competitive advantages over their U.S. counterparts, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The government has started briefing stakeholders about its intentions, the source said. Politico first reported the news.
The U.S. carriers, along with several labor unions representing their employees, have argued that all three major Persian Gulf airlines are violating terms of Open Skies agreements that allow them unfettered access to U.S. airports. The diplomatic agreements permit the U.S. government to call for consultations with foreign governments if the State Department believes foreign airlines have violated them.
However, despite intense lobbying from these three U.S. carriers, the State Department is expected to announce it will not request official consultations. Instead, U.S. diplomats likely will bring u
