U.S. Airlines for Open Skies issued this statement following the release of the joint U.S.-UAE statement on the sixth US-U.A.E. Economic Policy Dialogue:

“The U.S. Airlines for Open Skies coalition congratulates the governments of the United States and the United Arab Emirates for strongly reaffirming the U.S.-UAE Open Skies agreement today, reiterating their commitments to all of the rights and responsibilities it contains.

“Our member airlines, and their more than one million employees, depend on Open Skies agreements to offer competitive fares for passengers and to carry cargo between continents on behalf of U.S. consumers and our military.

“We hope this latest affirmation will end ongoing attempts to undermine this agreement that has benefited both countries for nearly two decades.”