Interjet and Volaris of Mexico pay $4500/month for A320 captains. They currently fly to many destinations in the USA. Avianca/TACA and Lan/TAM pay A320, A330, and 787 captains in the $7000-8000/month range and they currently fly to many U.S. destinations. Their other workers are on similar low percentage basis as compared with U.S. counterparts. Yet they are somehow not a threat?
News flash: There has never been a level playing field in aviation. Remember all those state owned and oft bailed out airlines elsewhere? Alitalia ring a bell? Air India?
Korean, Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Vietnam Airlines, Thai, Malaysian, Singapore, and many others have varying degrees of direct and indirect support from their respective governments.
The ME3 are providing a service in a markets that were clearly under-served or not served well enough by U.S. and European airlines. Instead of running and hiding behind protectionist policies maybe the U.S. and European carriers can design a competitive response that will serve the market's needs.
Typhoonpilot
Key - shortsighted strategy and xenophobic racist rant from Gloopy in three, two, one .................................................. .................