DeFazio wants administration to stop anti-competitive Gulf carrier practices

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) is calling on Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Secretary of State John Kerry to protect American jobs and restore a balance between national air carriers and Gulf-state subsidized airlines.

DeFazio, a ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, sent both Foxx and Kerry letters after a recent report revealed anti-competitive practices of the three largest airlines in the Gulf states of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“Based on the analysis released last week, I am concerned that state subsidies and other special favors bestowed upon the ME3, combined with those carriers' blatant disregard of fair labor practices, have created a particularly pernicious anti-competitive situation that adversely affects U.S. air carriers and their stakeholders, including the hundreds of thousands of U.S. airline employees who depend on the industry for stable, long-term employment,” DeFazio wrote.

Based on the report, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline received tens of billions in state subsidies and other special favors.

DeFazio wants the department to review and consider the report released by the U.S. carriers and take appropriate action to make sure the skies remain open, fair and free.