Why don't the European airlines simply bid competitively on the contracts? Why doesn't a European buy TNT?

For the same reason Fred Smith and the whiners at UPS first complained , then lobbied the US Congress to prevent DP-DHL from having a competitive and level playing field in the USA. You people think that America has the right to do whatever is in its interest economically and sod the rules , screw everyone else. Your time as an economic bully and powerhouse is quickly coming to an end.
The Chinese have allowed FedEx and UPS domestic rights in China , ( something like 8 cities and 6 cities respectively) If it is good enough for you in China , why not a foreign integrator in the good ` ol USA ? Your answer is always... well that`s the rules. You have been bending the rules for way too long. And we haven`t even begun to talk about taxes.....
Don`t throw FedEx and UPS out of Europe , just insist they operate European registered aircraft with EASA licensed crews with the right of abode. THAT IS FAIR.

Europe is not a country. What am I missing here?

How convenient. I see you are in America , why aren`t you speaking Spanish ? Abuse of an antiquated system is not carta blanco for rule manipulation and denial of what is right and moral. I see it everytime the field is tilted away from the USA. Buena suerte amigos.

Simple, it seems like many in the EU want all the benefits of being a single country without going to the trouble of actually being one. I guess I would try to get away with that too, if I could :D

Nail on the head right there.

@RandomPerson8008

LIKE.:ok:

EU governments failed to get together to create laws as a union (I seem to hear most people here feel entitled to this) to prevent intra-EU flight by non-EU operators. You bicker amongst yourselves and the EU can not manage the diverse group of Countries you are made up of. Go ahead, push legislation to close the skies. Se where that get's you.

You should consider yourself fortunate to be able to work in Europe and the rest of the world ( except US, Australia..)

Non Eu pilots are turned down when applying for a pilot job in Europe, just because they are not EU citizens, which I think deprives Europe from certainly good skilled pilots.