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Qatar Airways engages in "war of words" with American airlines

Xinhua, April 24, 2017 Adjust font size:

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker said here Monday that U.S. American Airlines, Delta and United Airlines were not representing the American people, but only themselves.

Al-Baker made the remarks on the opening day of the 24th Tourism Fair Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

In the latest "war of words" between Gulf carriers and their counterparts in the United States for years of getting "unfair" discounted jet fuel from their oil-exporting governments).

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker said in a press conference that "the three American carriers (American Airlines, Delta and United Airlines) do not represent the USA, but they only represent themselves. We create jobs in the U.S. by buying American aircraft and we will continue to expand our network in the USA."

Qatar Airways flies from its home airport in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to 15 destinations in the United States. Al-Baker announced he will add the American cities Las Vegas and San Francisco in 2017/2018, too.

Al-Baker said the ban introduced to carry electronic devices bigger than smartphones for passengers flying out of many Arab states including Qatar had only a "minor impact" on passenger demand for Qatar Airways' operations towards the world's biggest economy.

Personal laptops and tablet computers have been banned for six months from March 21 on direct flights to the U.S. from 10 airports in the eight countries, namely Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey and Morocco.

Earlier last Wednesday, Emirates said it will cut down on the number of flights to five of the 12 cities it serves in the U.S. starting May 1 following U. S. laptop and tablet ban on six Middle Eastern countries.

In a joint statement on April 19, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines called Emirates' decision "laughable."

In order to keep affluent and loyal clients aboard, the "Big Three" Gulf airlines started to loan laptops and tablets for first and business class passengers on direct flights from their respective airports Dubai International, Abu Dhabi international and Hamad International in Doha to the United States. Endit