The airline subsidy row initiated by the big three US carriers – Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines against the three big Gulf carriers – Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, is yet to see any signs of abating, with both sides sticking to their ground.
The US carriers allege that GCC carriers have received government subsidies worth over $40 billion, and have asked the US government to reconsider its open skies policy.
Gulf airlines deny the accusation, and claim US airlines have lost market share because of inferior services. In a recent press conference in Copenhagen, Tim Clark, president of Emirates, described the allegations as “wholly spurious, fallacious, [and] malicious.”
Late last week, the US government confirmed that it will look into the allegations.
“The US government takes seriously the concerns raised in the report and is interested in receiving insights and feedback from stakeholders before any decisions are made regarding what action, if any, should be taken,” a statement said.
Even as the case drags on, we’ve put together a basic comparison between the GCC carriers and their US peers.
| EMIRATES | ETIHAD AIRWAYS | QATAR AIRWAYS | DELTA AIRLINES | UNITED AIRLINES | AMERICAN AIRLINES | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOUNDED | 1985 | 2003 | 1993, launched in 1997 | 1924 | 1926 | 1930 |
| FLEET SIZE | Over 230 aircraft in service.Fleet includes: Airbus A330, A340, A380, Boeing 777 | Over 110 aircraft in service.Fleet includes: Airbus A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A380, Boeing 777, 787 | Over 150 aircraft in service.Fleet includes: Airbus A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A380, A350, Boeing 777, 787 | Over 780 aircraft in service.Fleet includes: Airbus A310, A319, A320, A330, Boeing 717, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, McDonnell Douglas MD-88, MD-90 | Over 690 aircraft in service.Fleet includes: Airbus A319, A320, Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787 | Over 620 aircraft in service.Fleet includes: Airbus A319, A320, A321, A330, Boeing 737, 757, 767, 777, 787 McDonnell Douglas MD-88 |
| NETWORK | 145 destinations in 80 countries | Over 90 destinations in 55 countries | Over 140 destinations in 70 countries | 326 destinations in 59 countries (with partners) | 373 destinations across 60 countries | 340 destinations in 50 countries |
| DIRECT BILATERAL ROUTES (TO THE US/GCC) | 10 US destinations: Orlando, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC | 6 US destinations: Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC | 7 US destinations: Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC | None | 3 GCC destinations: Dubai -UAE, Kuwait City- Kuwait, Manama City- Bahrain | None |
| SPECIAL AMENITIES | Private suites, onboard shower spa, special lounges in A380s; free wifi (first 10MB – $1 after) on over 100 flights; 37 dedicated airport lounges | Three-bedroom suites, private butler and chef services in A380s; flying nanny service on long haul flights | Cabin with foldable tables, lounge and bar in A380s; business class bar in A350; Armani amenity kit for long-haul flights | Delta One luxury cabins on longhaul flights with chef-curated meals; Starbucks coffees brewed on board all flights | BackCycler motion system for lumbar support on first class seats; Wifi aboard most flights | Flagship check-in service; lie-flat seats in 777 planes; International wifi on select flights at $12 for two hours |
