A large majority of US voters want to see their government stand up to the threat posed from airlines from the Gulf region, according to a new survey.
A poll of American voters conducted last week showed that over 79 percent believe that the US government should act to remedy trade violations of Open Skies Agreements and stand up for American workers.
The poll results follow a move by three US airlines – United, Delta and American – to produce a white paper claiming that Qatar Airways, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways and Dubai’s Emirates Airlines have received more than $42 billion in subsidies from their respective governments in the past decade, allegations strongly denied.
The American carriers want the Obama administration to address their concerns over unfair competition by either modifying or terminating the ‘open skies’ trade agreements that the US negotiated with Qatar and the UAE between 1999 and 2002.
If their campaign is successful, Gulf carriers could face restrictions on the number of US flights they’re allowed to operate.
The survey, conducted by Premiere Political Communications of Austin, Texas on behalf of Americans for Fair Skies, polled 2,409 registered voters in San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington DC.
The poll revealed that 79 percent of voters feel that the Obama-led administration should take action to resolve these subsidy violations rather than waiting for the consumer-driven marketplace to work out a solution.
It also showed that 74 percent feel the US government should take action to remedy violations if it was proven that Gulf carriers were violating the Open Skies agreements they signed with the United States.
According to the poll, 79 percent of voters felt it is a national security risk to allow the viability of its aviation infrastructure to be threatened.
“The poll shows that Americans are ready to see the US government stand up for aviation workers and find solutions to aviation trade violations that threaten the viability of a critical national industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it creates,” said Captain Lee Moak, president of Americans for Fair Skies.
“The time for consultations between nations to resolve this issue is now.”
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