Release #: 15.05
March 16, 2015

ALPA President Calls on CEOs of Middle East Carriers to be Transparent

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Capt. Tim Canoll, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) issued the following statement as the CEOs of Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Emirates Airline arrive in Washington, D.C., this week:

“It’s time the CEOs of these three Middle East carriers open their books and explain the numbers. Because these airlines receive massive government subsidies, they are growing at an astounding rate and expanding their global presence without concern for financial returns. As a U.S. pilot with more than 25 years of experience in commercial aviation, I can see that if Qatar and the United Arab Emirates continue giving their carriers billions of dollars in unfair subsidies, they will cannibalize American pilots’ jobs and undermine our nation’s aviation system. It’s imperative that all involved governments abide by our Open Skies agreements.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 51,000 pilots at 30 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.

Background:
ALPA is part of the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies, which includes American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, along with the Allied Pilots Association, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, and the Airline Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The coalition is dedicated to restoring a level playing field to international air travel and called on the Obama administration to open consultations under the Open Skies agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to address the flow of subsidized capacity to the United States, with a request to freeze new passenger service during the consultations.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703/481-4440 or Media@alpa.org

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