• NEWS
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • EVENTS
    • THIRSTY THURSDAY
      • ABOUT US
      • HOW TO JOIN
      • RSVP PORTAL
      • EVENT PHOTO/VIDEO
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • COMPETITIONS
    • TRAINING
    • CONFERENCES
  • JOBS
    • SEARCH FOR JOBS
    • POST A JOB
  • EVERYTHING BRAND TD
    • ABOUT BRAND TD
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • WHAT IS NATIVE CONTENT
    • EXECUTIVE TEAM
      • Gary (Founder/CEO)
      • Chris (GM & Managing Editor)
      • Mali (Finance Mgr)
    • CONTENT TEAM
      • Kristin (Senior Editor)
      • Kanchan (Editor)
    • SALES TEAM
      • Gary (CEO)
      • Chris (GM & Managing Editor)
      • Anthony (Regional Sales-APAC)
      • Martin C (BDM-Asia)
      • Maxine (BDM-UK)
    • EVENTS TEAM
      • Marc (Director)
      • Suwapa (Events Mgr)
  • SELF SERVICE
    • 2024 Media Kit
    • 2024 Events Kit
    • Submit Press Release
    • Self Service portal
    • Upload your Travel Blog

Travel Daily Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the world’s travel industry professionals.

  • MARKETS/SECTORS
  • FEATURES
    • Partner Articles
      • Airlines / Airports
      • Car Rental
      • Conferences
      • Cruising (Ocean)
      • Cruising (River)
      • Destination Management (DMC)
      • GDS / CRS
      • Hotels & Resorts
      • Hotel Management Company
      • Hotel Technology
      • HR / Appointments
      • Insurance
      • Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions (MICE)
      • Travel Agents (all)
      • Travel Technology
      • Tourism Boards
    • Interviews
    • Industry appointments
    • Podcasts – Features
    • Guest Writers
    • PR Newswire
  • TRAVEL GUIDES
    • Destination NaJomtien BanAmphur BangSaray *NEW*
    • จุดหมายปลายทาง นาจอมเทียน หาดบ้านอำเภอ บางเสร่ *NEW*
    • South Australia Rewards Wonders *NEW*
    • Ponant Yacht Cruises and Expeditions
    • Encore Tickets (Chinese Guide)
    • Affordable Luxury in Thailand by Centara Hotels
    • Rising Above the Oridinary by Conrad Bangkok
    • The Best of Thailand
  • IWTA SERIES
    • Who is IWTA
    • Recommend Someone
    • Recommend yourself
    • Meet our featured leaders
      • Australia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
  • IWTA Awards
Travel Daily Media
United StatesAirlines and AviationAir

US and UAE reach open skies agreement amid unfair practices dispute

By Kristin Mariano On May 16, 2018
TD Editor
Share
Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

It is now “business as usual” in the skies, according to the officials, as United States and United Arab Emirates airlines have confirmed that there is no freeze of the ‘fifth freedom’ routes to the US that do not originate in Dubai,.

US and UAE agreed to preserve their security partnership even if their dispute over alleged unfair practices of Gulf carriers – Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways – remains unresolved.

The agreement on civil aviation was announced on 14 May following a meeting between US secretary Mike Pompeo and the UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs and international cooperation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The UAE officials also confirmed that the fifth freedom has been restored. ‘Fifth freedom’ refers to the right for an airline to fly between two foreign countries during flights while the flight originates or ends in one’s own country.

UAE officials clarified the statements made by several news outlets that reported there is an alleged “freeze” on opening fifth freedom rights stemming from the organisation Americans for Fair Skies’ response to the agreement claiming that the UAE has agreed to halt fifth freedom routes into the US.

On the night of 11 May, Americans for Fair Skies and the Fair and Open Skies Group issued statements praising President Donald J. Trump for protecting US airlines from alleged unfair competitive practices by Gulf airlines.

“The UAE has agreed to end its market-distorting airline subsidies”

In a statement, Americans for Fair Skies said: “As a result of President Trump’s leadership on trade enforcement to safeguard U.S. jobs, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has agreed to end its market-distorting airline subsidies and freeze any additional new Fifth Freedom routes into the United States. This is a huge step forward in the fight for fair competition in the international aviation marketplace.”

“President Trump’s leadership and deal-making savvy have now led to successful negotiations for U.S. workers with both the UAE and the State of Qatar, which was announced this past January.”

US airlines also applauded president Trump saying that he stands up to countries that violate trade agreements and it is a “win” for Americans.

UAE officials, on the other hand, was also happy with the agreement but confirmed that there is no freeze on fifth freedom flights.

“Aviation is at the centre of a UAE-US trade and commercial relationship that generates enormous benefits from both countries. Today’s announcement confirms business as usual by validating all the rights and benefits – including ‘fifth freedom’ services – of the 2002 air transport agreement between the two countries,” Sheikh Abdullah said in a statement after the meeting.

“Complete commercial flexibility”

Sheikh Abdullah added that UAE and US airlines will “continue to have complete commercial flexibility to add or adjust service to meet traveller needs.”

Middle East airlines are also happy with the deal. Emirates Airlines responded that they welcomed the agreement adding that it did not agree to cut the existing traffic rights and remained its right to expand services to the US and Europe.

Dispute remains unresolved

The ongoing dispute was sparked by allegations that the rapid growth of the three Gulf carriers is due to more than $50 billion in government subsidies that enabled them to take market share from U.S. carriers and European partners such as Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

The three Middle East carriers denied the allegations.

The new agreement entails Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways to improve financial disclosures and avoid cross-subsidization by government-owned service suppliers. The lack of transparency is also one of the roots of the ongoing dispute between the US carriers and labor unions and the Gulf carriers.

However, the agreement fell short of the demands of US airlines and labor unions to curb the expansion of the three state-owned carriers. The group reportedly have spent an estimated $50 million on lobbying over the past three years for US lawmakers to enact this.

Qatar AirwaysAmericans for Fair SkiesFair and Open Skies Group
Share
You might also like
Air

Qatar Airways Disappointed By Australia’s Decision To Reject Additional Flights

Awards

Akbar Al Baker honoured with prestigious APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award

Airlines and Aviation

Qatar Airways Additional Flights Would Reduce Fares Senate Inquiry Hears

Airlines and Aviation

Qatar Airways achieves IT Service Management System Excellence Certification

Prev Next

Comments are closed.

POPULAR STORIES

Wyndham Debuts La Quinta in Auckland with 246 keys

The world’s largest tourism spenders

Vistara commences daily, direct flights between Delhi and…

Aer Lingus welcomes Two Millionth Transatlantic Customer for…

Prev Next 1 of 6,490

PARTNER CONTENT

  • Embark on a journey of a lifetime: Silversea’s World Cruise 2024 – Far East-West

    Read More...
  • Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit: Elevate your Bangkok experience

    Read More...
  • Elevate your event with Bali Dynasty Resort’s meeting package

    Read More...
  • Silversea’s Gems and Icons 2025 Summer: 5 reasons why you should join the cruise

    Read More...
  • Monaco: A Prestigious MICE Destination Like Nowhere Else

    Read More...
  • Aurora Expeditions’ Arctic 2024 Program: A journey of unforgettable moments and adventures

    Read More...
  • Seven Strategies to Prepare for Your Hotel for a Major Event

    Read More...
STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS, JOBS & EVENTS!
Join over 180,000 travel agents, professionals and executives subscribed to our daily newsletter.
You can unsubscribe at any time
Search
MENU
  • News
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

MARKETS

  • Asia
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • India
  • Middle East
  • UK & Europe
  • USA

SECTOR

  • Airlines
  • Airports
  • Cruise
  • Hospitality
  • HR & Careers
  • Luxury Travel
  • MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)
  • Travel Tech
  • Tourism
  • Travel Agents
About
  • BOOK A SALES CALL
  • About TD (Travel Daily Media)
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2023 - Travel Daily Media. All Rights Reserved.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time
Close

Welcome, Login to your account.

Forget password?

Sign in with Google

Powered by wp-glogin.com

No account? Sign Up
Sign in

Recover your password.

A password will be e-mailed to you.

CREATE A NEW PROFILE
SIGN IN TO EXISTING PROFILE
back

LOG IN

Welcome back, Log in to your account.

Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google
Continue with Twitter
Continue with LinkedIn

OR
Log in using your email
Forgot password?
back

Recover your password.

back

SIGN UP FOR FREE

(New User)

Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world.

I want to
Only letters and numbers are allowed
Please enter a valid email address
Must be between 6-8 characters
Must be the same with Password
  • LOGIN / SIGN UP
  • NEWS
    • MARKETS
      • Asia
      • China
      • Pacific
      • India
      • Middle East
      • UK & Europe
      • USA & Canada
    • SECTORS
      • Airlines
      • Airports
      • Cruise
      • Hospitality
      • HR & Careers
      • Luxury Travel
      • MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)
      • Travel Tech
      • Tourism
      • Travel Agents
    • FEATURES
      • Partner articles
        • Airlines / Airports
        • Car Rental
        • Conferences
        • Cruising (Ocean)
        • Cruising (River)
        • Destination Management (DMC)
        • GDS / CRS
        • Hotels & Resorts
        • Hotel Management Company
        • Hotel Technology
        • HR / Appointments
        • Insurance
        • Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions (MICE)
        • Travel Agents (all)
        • Travel Technology
        • Tourism Boards
      • Interviews
      • Industry appointments
      • Travel Bloggers
      • Podcasts – Features
  • EVENTS
    • Thirsty Thursday
      • About us
      • How to join
      • RSVP Portal
      • Event Photos/Videos
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • Competitions
    • Conferences
  • JOBS
    • Search for Jobs
    • Post a Job
  • TRAVEL GUIDES
    • Destination NaJomtien BanAmphur BangSaray *NEW*
    • จุดหมายปลายทาง นาจอมเทียน หาดบ้านอำเภอ บางเสร่ *NEW*
    • South Australia Reward Wonders *NEW*
    • Ponant Yacht Cruises and Expeditions
    • Encore Tickets (Chinese Guide)
    • Affordable Luxury in Thailand by Centara Hotels
    • Rising Above the Oridinary by Conrad Bangkok
    • The Best of Thailand
  • IWTA SERIES
    • Who is IWTA
    • Meet our featured leaders
      • Australia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Recommend Someone
    • Recommend yourself
  • IWTA AWARDS
    • Awards site