Pilots and members of congress blame Gulf airlines for U.S. job losses

Representatives from the U.S. airline industry and members of Congress renewed the debate over the Open Skies agreement in May when they again accused Gulf carriers of profiting from government subsidies, and asked President Donald Trump’s administration to reexamine the existing agreements. “Unfair advantages given to the Gulf nations threaten the level playing field that was created by the Open Skies agreement,” Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) said at a press conference. The Open Skies agreements are a series of treaties that give participating countries — including the UAE and Qatar — access to U.S. air markets. The deals aimed to open up international trade and stimulate competition by freeing the airlines from government interference. This freer marketplace is ideally better for passengers, as the competition improves service and decreases prices.