Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has dismissed as "baseless" claims by US airlines that the open skies agreement is weighted in favour of Gulf carriers.
The chief executive was responding to criticism from the "big three" — Delta, American and United — that Qatar Airways, Etihad and Emirates have received $42 billion in "unfair" subsidies from their governments since 2004.
Al Baker said this joint complaint was "a transparent attempt to block new competition and limit consumer choice".
Speaking in Washington, DC yesterday, he said: "US carriers have attacked this before, and their claims should be rejected as it is a claim to eliminate competition and choice.
"[They] have become greedy to make even more profits. They have consolidated and reduced capacity to keep prices high against the interests of the customers and provide crap service...
"US open skies agreements are about offering choice – the ability to fly with the airline you prefer, to regions which are under-served by US carriers. The big three want to restrict choice. World travellers would suffer if they succeed...
"The big three do not compete with us on a single non-stop route. The beneficial exchange of culture and commerce made possible by the US-Qatar open skies agreement must not be blocked by the big three merely because we have chosen to serve markets that they have ignored."
Al Baker added: "Qatar Airways offers important services to the United States and many American interests recognise our value. We serve markets in the Gulf region and Indian subcontinent that US carriers do not serve."
In March, Al Baker accused Delta of flying "crap airplanes that are 35 years old" (see news, March 18).
That same month, Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan warned against "the dark clouds of protectionism" ending the open skies agreements in place around the world (see news, March 26).
Graham Smith
