Big 3 vs. UAE

[Curry Goat]

Hmmmm. Interesting or possibly all smoke and mirrors.

Trump?s America First Agenda Wins Trade Dispute with United Arab Emirates (http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/05/11/trumps-america-first-agendawins-trade-dispute-united-arab-emirates/)

[AAGpilot]

great news and nice to see a US administration actually prioritizing its citizens and its companies over foreign lobby. If the findings are that there are no subsidies of the ME3 (doubtful), I’ll be the first one to welcome the competition. Hey they actually did force us to step up our product and I’m glad to see it. Here’s another link without the Breitbart Rah Rah Rah!

https://airwaysmag.com/industry/us-uae-sign-agreement-to-end-competition-spat/

[stakeknife]

No surprises, a fudge allowing both sides to claim a win. Emirates have had their books open and audited by PWC for the past 18 years and they are benefiting from the QR blockade. Meanwhile the economic realities of bad investments are causing a change of strategy for EY and they look like shrinking to become a more bespoke carrier. A reduction from 140-90 aircraft is the rumour. Interestingly 5th freedom rights are still an option though QR and EY dont have any interest. Ek struggling to crew what they have and would not be capable off adding 5th freedom flights in the next 12-24 months anyhow. Realistically the landscape has changed since this all started with Qatar being isolated and EY scaling back. Millions of $ spent by both sides and really nothing will change that geopolitics and economics wasnt already changing. The lawyers will be the real winners.

[Desdihold]

It will also make it difficult for EK to open new routes to US cities in the next few years.
STC plan seems to have always been to smoother a market with excess supply and then kill off the competition, they seem to be on to him.

[pilotguy1222]

"In a side letter to the agreement, the Emirati state said that they will not add any more “Fifth-Freedom flights”, where passengers can fly to or from the US to third countries without needing to set foot in the UAE. This side letter did not explicitly promise that any more routes would be added but indicated no further routes are planned."

Pretty big difference considering how quickly EK plans new routes.

[surely not]

How many US Airlines fly to/through Dubai?

[stakeknife]

UPS and FEDEX have hubs in DXB, US pax airlines don’t fly after DL gave up ATL route after losing the US Govt contract. Not sure much of a market for UAE to USA in isolation, the market is Asia/ Africa to USA via DXB/ DOH/AUH rather than say AMS/CDG/LHR.

[Wannabe Flyer]

Well EK South Asia to the US in under pressure. European & local carriers are fighting back on price. There is a 10% difference in fares in economy & much more substantial in business. EK business and now economy is no product differentiator. So in summer would I rather transit with an option to stop over in Europe, off course especially when LH & Swiss now have a better product priced cheaper. Add to that their generous FF program with cross carrier compatibility is making them more tempting to me to move my 12 west bound flights a year out of EK. Empty seats & frequent deal mails from EK this summer are now becoming standard & a sign of why some planes are parked in the middle of the busy school holiday season in South Asia.

[donpizmeov]

https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/05/17/aeromexico-drops-planned-barcelona-route-cites-unfair-emirates-competition/