Boeing supports open skies policy
Firm’s new Middle East president says market for commercial aircraft growing in the region
Atop executive of Boeing said that the company strongly supports the open skies policy and free trade agreements as tensions between Gulf airlines and the US carriers escalate over the issue of subsidies and unfair competition.
Speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Bernie Dunn, the new president of Boeing in the Middle East, said the company supports anything that is free trade.
“Open skies is an example of free trade. It has so far benefited all parties concerned,” he said, without giving further details, and added that they [Boeing] explained their opinion to the United States government on this matter.
Emirates debunks claims
Emirates issued a strong statement on Tuesday debunking all the allegations made by three big US airlines including Delta, United and American Airlines, that it is benefiting from government subsidies, airport infrastructure and the structuring of its labour law.
Emirates, in its rebuttal to the US carriers’ claims, said it is contributing to the tune of $2.9 billion (Dh10.65 billion) in adding economic value to the airports and their surrounding regions where it is operating in the US.
Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates, termed the allegations as patently false and said that they would hinder the growth of the airline industry.
“The allegations about Emirates receiving subsidies or competing unfairly are false. The Big Three are far from being harmed financially by Emirates operations, and they are not even operating in the same markets that we are,” he said in the 350-report released by Emirates on Tuesday.
Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, too, have reacted strongly against the allegations made by the US carriers in recent times. Etihad chief, James Hogan, in a press conference in Madrid last month told the US and European airlines that they “should respect their business model as they respect theirs”.
Meanwhile, Dunn, said that the market for commercial aircraft is growing in the region. “Our forecast is 3,000 aircraft in 20 years time and we see it becoming higher as we continue to refine our commercial market outlook. The global commercial market outlook and this region’s commercial market outlook are very strong for Boeing aircraft. We don’t see it as saturated,” he said.
“More and more people around the world are entering middle class and more and more people are finding themselves having disposable income to travel. We find strong growth for the industry.”
Our forecast is 3,000 aircraft in 20 years time and we see it becoming higher as we continue to refine our commercial market outlook.”
Bernie Dunn | President of Boeing in the Middle East