Emirates loses contract for US employees
 

Or something like that...

"It’s a common perception that Washington, D.C., isn’t always known for its good judgment. However, ALPA, the United MEC, and United Airlines (UAL) worked together, and the General Services Administration (GSA) reversed a decision that would have required U.S. government employees to fly on a state-supported, foreign competitor—Emirates Airline. Instead, our collaborative, quick, and aggressive efforts will keep those passengers on United.

You can’t make this stuff up. The U.S. government awarded National Air Cargo (NAC) a contract to operate service on 31 U.S.–Middle East city pairs under the Fly America Act. Why should you care? NAC has just one passenger aircraft. It would be nearly impossible to use that NAC aircraft to fly all the routes awarded. What’s the real story? Another scheme.

The NAC contract was simply a “rent-a-code” ploy for Emirates flights to and from the United States. The purpose of the Fly America Act is to ensure that passengers whose travel is paid for by the U.S. government will fly on U.S. airlines. This flying may include some code sharing with foreign partners, but NAC planned to fulfill this contract almost exclusively by placing its designator code on Emirates flights to and from the United States, putting U.S. taxpayer dollars to work supporting the Gulf carrier.

Recognizing the threat to our flying, United immediately mounted challenges. First, United challenged the GSA award to NAC/Emirates. Second, United challenged NAC’s application for scheduled passenger authority at DOT. ALPA strongly backed United’s positions in both efforts and, along with Delta Air Lines and Airlines for America, argued aggressively in support of UAL’s position at DOT. Our joint efforts prevailed—the GSA terminated NAC’s contract this week, returning 27 city pairs to UAL.

While this is an important and promising development, it is only temporary. The battle is not over. Long-term success is still uncertain because the GSA and DOT proceedings are still underway and the GSA decision could be reversed again in the coming weeks. It is clear, however, that concerted action by ALPA members can effect change in Washington when we focus on the common ground we share. In the coming weeks and months, our union must push for a long-term—not just a temporary—policy that enhances the competitive position of U.S. airlines and does not threaten U.S. jobs. We need to make certain that U.S. government policy advances—or at a minimum, does not harm—the U.S. airline industry and its employees.

This victory is in part due to ALPA’s impeccable reputation in Washington, built upon the dedicated efforts of thousands of ALPA pilots who enable our government affairs work by participating in our Calls-to-Action and contributing to ALPA-PAC. Couple that with the support of thousands of ALPA pilots across all company lines, and we have a reliable cache of support for our issues.

As I said earlier, much work remains to remake our government’s policies for our industry and to achieve a truly level playing field globally, but the GSA’s decision serves as an indicator that we are flying in the right direction"

Nothing like a bit of protectionism! The enemy of efficiency and the creator of cost. The pilots might be happy but the US taxpayer is more out of pocket - no doubt EK would be a lot cheaper than UAL...

For once i consent. It is not so much a matter of protectionism, but with sticking to a contract, something EK drivers are passionately holding against their company who doesn't care very much about complying!

If it costs the taxpayer too much, then he should have his representatives change the contract, not violate it.

I'm sure that protectionism and envoquing "all American" will work for the US airline industry as well as it did for the US auto industry:rolleyes: you couldn't see a commercial on TV about an American car that didn't have an eagle in it from 2000 to 2008 LOL! It wasn't until they realize that it was the product that was failing them and not the publics sense of nationalism....! But on the other hand, have you seen the cars they are making now? Detroit has come back with a vengeance.....!

Dear US legacy carriers, your costumer service SUCKS....! It is not our sense of patriotism that has diminished, it is your product....! Plain and simple.

Well said, Dom!!

I have been so spoiled by service on EK as a staff traveler only to come over to the US and fly one of them on a domestic flight. I must shake my head a dozen times and say to myself.... Why do you people put up with this crap service??? It is appalling!!! Worse than the Greyhound bus.....

K

Do UAL even fly to the Middle East though? Someone else will just end up doing the flying, won't they? Fact is no one else has the network that the Gulf carriers have....

Daily DXB Habibti.

SyB :zzz:

Doha through Dubai and Bahrain through Kuwait all to Washington Dulles.

Cheers, never noticed them in DXB so wasn't sure....

what is the WTO view
 

Lets assume that a certain EU company, that might just have an allegiance with a certain UAE company applies for the contract.

Under the existing WTO rules, the USA can not reject the openly available tender for goods or services.

So who will win or loose....... or does it really matter.????

glf

so basically Emirates was trying to get a piece of the American war machine? They can't directly hold military contracts but they sub-contract through this NAC outfit?

I agree that the US carrier's service is.. The WORST!! But as a tax payer there.. I want my money to support US jobs, that goes back into the local tax base..

As a former person within National, I can assure you that this was National leading the charge and not EK.

I can see another Irish registered link developing here!
Maybe his is why a certain public figure representing the EU company recently went to visit EK?