ALPA on Emirates and Etihad

[Flyer1015]

New U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council Aviation Report Released
The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) has been running an aggressive PR campaign in the United States to win support for its state-sponsored airlines. A new report by the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council goes as far as to exalt the benefits to U.S. workers from the commercial aviation partnership between the United States and the U.A.E.

The above is good news. Notihng wrong with that.

However, the report fails to mention that Emirates’ and Etihad’s expansion poses a direct threat to U.S. pilot and aviation jobs.

Oh yikes! A country has an airline that is growing and it's a threat to US pilots and aviation jobs. Oh no. How can this be? Capitalism competition?!

While the report heralds the value of this aviation “partnership,” only 2 of the 13 daily U.S.–U.A.E. nonstop flights are operated by U.S. airlines, and no U.S. airline flies into or out of Abu Dhabi.

And who's freakin fault is that? Why don't the US airlines operate more flights to Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Delta and United pack those flights with good loads. This is a stupid argument. You can't really cry wolf when you don't go there in the first place.

]quote] Furthermore, the U.A.E. airlines do not need to adhere to labor relations rules comparable to those that govern our domestic carriers, and they operate at a competitive cost advantage thanks to the U.A.E.’s favorable tax and regulatory structure.[/quote]
In America, we call that Chapter 11 and then motion 1113e.

Increased international air travel certainly has the potential to deliver economic benefits to the United States; however, the U.S. government should promote policies that ensure U.S. aviation jobs are protected as this expansion occurs and promote the growth and success of our domestic airlines.

If our airlines can't function and make profits after taking everyone to the cleaners through Chp 11, then they need to go out of business.

As a starting point, ALPA has proposed reducing the tax burden on U.S. airlines, maintaining strong foreign ownership and cabotage restrictions,

Agreed with above. The tax burden on US airlines is getting ridiculous. But, the government is broke so there won't be any changes here anytime soon.

and avoiding gifting one-sided advantages to foreign competitors, such as the creation of a CBP preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi airport.

That's a nice convenience. Doesn't mean our pilots will be furloughed and Delta goes out of business just because Abu Dhabi opened a CBP preclearance. Good for them. Maybe that will finally get a US airline to start serving Abu Dhabi.

 

[Flyer1015]

I can't edit the above post.

This part should have read:

Furthermore, the U.A.E. airlines do not need to adhere to labor relations rules comparable to those that govern our domestic carriers, and they operate at a competitive cost advantage thanks to the U.A.E.’s favorable tax and regulatory structure.

In America, we call that Chapter 11 and then motion 1113e.

 

[Jetjockey]

The flaw with the above argument is that it's NOT capitalism in the truest sense. It's state sponsored competition based on skewed favoritism for the national carrier. To compete, the US would need a viable aviation policy. The sad part is the US government sees the airlines in this country, (and it's customers) as a big fat piggy bank. Aviation is taxed higher than a "sin" tax that tobacco and alcohol gets hit with.

If you have no problem with the US airline industry going the same was as US shipping industry, then Support Arab Emerites based airlines.

 

[Flyer1015]

The flaw with the above argument is that it's NOT capitalism in the truest sense. It's state sponsored competition based on skewed favoritism for the national carrier. To compete, the US would need a viable aviation policy. The sad part is the US government sees the airlines in this country, (and it's customers) as a big fat piggy bank. Aviation is taxed higher than a "sin" tax that tobacco and alcohol gets hit with.

If you have no problem with the US airline industry going the same was as US shipping industry, then Support Arab Emerites based airlines.

Agreed that the US government taxes the airlines way too much and does see them as a huge revenue source. "9/11 security fee" what BS. It's the government's job to protect our skies, and they shouldn't be taxing US airlines for this "9/11 security fee." Do everyone a favor and disband the TSA and replace with privatized security that is efficient and runs in fewer numbers than the thousands standing around with full pensions.

And MOST people I know that fly Emirates or Abu Dhabi aren't doing it to travel within America or to Europe. They are connecting to cities that just aren't served by USA airlines. MANY connect to countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and tons of African counries/cities that are untouched by USA. On a EK or EY flight, only a small portion will stay in DXB or AUH, the rest are all connecting to destinations outside of .

For example, an Iranian American citizen hoping to see his family in Tehran has no USA option. He must take either EK or EY through DXB or AUH to get there. Same goes for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and many countries in the Middle East. In fact, in the middle east, Delta and United do Dubai and United also does Bahrain/Kuwait. Those are the only Middle East destinations I know that USA airlines do (excluding Tel Aviv). Everything else is left untouched.

Most people don't take Emirates to go from USA to Europe, it would just be too long and the cost the same (or more) as opposed to taking a USA carrier over to Europe. I see the ME carriers fulfilling a role that the USA airlines just can't, places in the ME, Africa, Indian Subcontinent, and Asia.

 

[GogglesPisano]

It seems like the guys in the US who have decent jobs at major airlines can see the light and can remember what this job used to be like. For everyone else it's sour grapes and their rooting for the other team.

 

[fareview]

Emirates is doing lots for American jobs by ordering 100+ 777s. FlyDubai 50 738s

Look for a whopping record order for the 777X at the DXB air show fall '13...all bringing billions of dollars to an American co. and thus Unle Sam. Take the blinkers off.

fv

 

[Flopgut]

It seems like the guys in the US who have decent jobs at major airlines can see the light and can remember what this job used to be like. For everyone else it's sour grapes and their rooting for the other team.

Yep...

Emirates is doing lots for American jobs by ordering 100+ 777s. FlyDubai 50 738s

Stop the BS abuse and US airlines might be just as successful as US airplane builders. US leads in all things aerospace, except airlines.

 

[dicko]

Cut them some slack. They get a free limo to/from the compound. And their FA's are hot. So it's all good.

Hey Goggles. You know they don't have compounds right ? They live in Villas of apartments just like normal people. But you're right, they do get rides to and from work and the FAs are smokin..

Yes, I'd rather work for Delta but the xenophobic misconceptions about Emirates are odd. Eitihad or Qatar on the other hand ......

 

[GogglesPisano]

Sorry. Just repeating what I read on FI as the best selling points of working there.

 

[Jetjockey]

Yah...the flight attendants are smoking hot..........

That's what I'm looking for in a career.

 

[Green]

Yah...the flight attendants are smoking hot..........

That's what I'm looking for in a career.

First year total compensation is about $150,000USD. 42 days of vacation per year. Virtually tax free. Layovers anywhere you want to go. Driven to and from work (actually makes a difference after a long day). Upgrade has been running around 3.5 years on the 777. 130 or so nationalities working in the flight deck.

Not all the FA's are smoking hot but out of a crew of 15+ there are always some hotties. It's not so bad having a Rio layover with 15 girls in their 20's from every corner of the globe. As for the moral laws, Dubai can be as wild as it gets. Just no PDA in public. Nightclubs everywhere and it's definitely a playground for the wealthy. If you prefer the quiet family life that is available as well.

Emirates will fire you if you screw up. They don't tolerate deviating from the company rules. They are very punitive. But the overall experience is as good as any US airline in my opinion. I have to say it's a bit embarrassing traveling on some of the US carriers nowadays. I fly with pilots from everywhere and they all want to know how the US airlines got to be so f@ked up.

If EK ever gets a foothold in the US it's going to be hard on the local carriers. They absolutely cannot compete with the Emirates product. The US needs to step up it's game.

 

[Furloughed80]

They absolutely cannot compete with the Emirates product. The US needs to step up it's game.

It's not a matter of stepping up our game. EK has advantages in terms of tax policy, labor costs/rules, and financing that western airlines will never be able to duplicate. Why do you refuse to acknowledge this?

 

[flyboyike]

I enjoyed this part of ALPAs blurb -

"Furthermore, the U.A.E. airlines do not need to adhere to labor relations rules comparable to those that govern our domestic carriers"

I'd rather work for Emirates than any of the sweatshop regional carriers, and some of the big carriers that ALPA represents.

Amen.

 

[Jetjockey]

If EK ever gets a foothold in the US it's going to be hard on the local carriers. They absolutely cannot compete with the Emirates product. The US needs to step up it's game.

If US airlines were "state sponsored", and didn't have to deal with pesky labor laws, have unions outlawed, could fire anyone they didn't like, got fuel at government subsidized rate, low landing fees at the home hub,..............I'm sure the US airlines could "step up its game".

The fact is, at the end of the day you work for a quasi government entity in a foreign land where they hate US citizens.

For me, I'm a proud American who believes in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I'll keep my family right here in the best country in the world.

 

[jonjuan]

Don't forget to wipe after that burrito dump in sand land.