I thought the argument here was over subsidies, not about open skies agreements.

The ME3 aren't subsidized. They're owned by the (private) government.

Similar to many other flag carriers. Yet I don't see Delta arguing for restrictions on South African Airways or PIA etc.

Its only because the ME3 have a better product at a better price, and are killing the weaker competition that the likes of Delta are squealing.

Delta et al arguing for the US government to restrict these better performing airlines is in effect a request for non financial 'subsidy' isn't it?

Whenever I hear people singing the praises of dictatorships, benign or otherwise, I always think, "be careful what you wish for".

History is full of wonderful leaders who certainly were "effective"...Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and Pol Pot certainly "got things done".

Not totally convinced their systems were superior, however.

But hey at least you don't pay tax, so there's that. Well, not until next year anyway.

Do keep up old chap. There's been tax in Dubai for all of the years I've been here... Booze, hotels, Salik to name a few.

Funny how some folks like to keep on 'sniffing' around the ME forum:rolleyes:

And this can happen especially in this historical moment where you are allowed to be racist again (at least for the next 3 year)!

To true, but specify at least. I am tired of arguing with monkeys about "dumping seats" when I fly into the US full and with ticket prices far higher than the US3 and their code share partners.

If someone wants to bring up the unmentionable one, or the other with one with government money pouring in, do so. The only thing related to EK and the ME3 is the "ME". None of all the other unproven BS being tossed out by the US3 is even relevant to EK.

74% load factor by EK is not full
Check their numbers

Humble SLF
I think the people talking about US carriers are missing the point. The product both hard and soft is just not good enough. You can go on about govt support and everything else but even the soft product is poor in comparison. I travel a fair bit and tend to use 3 carriers SQ/LH/EK for all long haul travel. The US carriers are not in the same league as the above in either faculty. Also I would point out that as I am UK based, I would also say BA has also lost my business for the same reason,s, combined with the fact that they are London centric and I chose to live in the north where BA have just about abandoned us anyway !
To sum up if the US customer service reverted to somthing like it used to be when I first started traveling over there when I was a student (and we are talking about mid 1970,s) then you might start to see some improvment, but the only thing I have noticed over the intervening years when I have to go there (I tend to get work in swathes there so approx 10 year gaps) has been the race to the bottom by all of them. Slick advertisment like that does not make it any better, just shows the oposition you are worried that you are not good enough.


Regards
Mr Mac

Beautifully put.