Gosh now where would they have learned this sort of protectionism from?
Surely not the N. American governments that are happy to have 5th freedom flights through LHR or other stopping off points to Europe yet denied any form of negotiation on European airlines and others being able to sell domestic legs on multi sector routes in their own vast countries!!
Now someone else uses similar tactics they are crying foul..............well sorry but no tears for them, just a reminder that as you sow, so shall ye reap.