Air Transport World: New US Airline Coalition Opposes ‘Big 3’ Gulf Campaign

Karen Walker – August 3, 2015

Four US airlines have formed a new coalition to oppose the campaign to fight expansion of the Gulf carriers in the US. The CEOs of Atlas Air, FedEx, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways have submitted a joint letter to the US government saying that what American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are seeking would be a breach of Open Skies treaties and a political maneuver to reduce competition. Cargo operators Atlas and FedEx and independent passenger airlines Hawaiian and JetBlue.

What Are Open Skies Treaties?

They are agreements between the United States and other countries that create open, competitive markets for international air travel. They enable airlines, not governments, to make decisions about routes, capacity, frequency, and pricing of their services, based on market demand.

About Us

U.S. Airlines for Open Skies (USAOS) is a coalition of four U.S. passenger and cargo carriers – Atlas Air Worldwide, FedEx, JetBlue Airways, and Cargo Airline Association – in support of the United States' Open Skies agreements, which promote U.S. jobs and economic growth.