The U.S. State, Transportation and Commerce departments said Friday they are looking into reports of foreign airline subsidies distorting the global aviation market.
The reports said subsidies from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar awarded to Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways have adversely affected the aviation market.
An article from The National said that American, Delta Airlines and United Airways have claimed that governmental subsidies to the three Gulf airlines gives them an unfair advantage. They also report that subsidies have amounted to an equivalent of $42 billion over a 10 year period.
The three U.S. departments are seeking input on what action should be taken or if action to address this concern should be taken.
An open forum will be established for stakeholders and agencies that play a part in this issue to submit information or their views. Information including response, analyses and other items can be submitted to the www.regulations.gov website directly. Material submitted will be made available for the public to see.
An inter-departmental team will review all material submitted before the beginning of the review process, which is expected at the end of May. This review process will coincide with the federal government’s ongoing evaluation on this situation.
