Delta ditches Dubai route, blames Gulf carriers

Delta Air Lines is cancelling its Atlanta-Dubai service and has blamed "heavily-subsidised" Gulf carriers for its decision. From February 11, the US airline will no longer operate a B777 between the two cities. It will instead redeploy the aircraft to other "transatlantic markets where it can compete on a level playing field that's not distorted by subsidised state-owned airlines". In a statement, Delta blamed an oversaturation of flights between the US and the Gulf and again called for Washington to intervene. It said: "Between 2008 and 2014, about 11,000 daily seats were added between the US and Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi – more than 95 per cent of which are flown by Gulf carriers Emirates, Qatar and Etihad airlines. "Of the 14 daily flights between the US and Dubai, only two are operated by US carriers." In June, Delta, United and American formed the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies coalition calling on the US government to enforce the open skies agreement, which they claim is weighted in favour of Gulf carriers (see news, June 17). delta.com Graham Smith