Originally Posted by Typhoonpilot

•The Big 3 are using the Gulf carriers’ modest market incursions to create a boogey man against which they can rail publicly as a way of distracting the public from the big – though still not remarkable on a net margin basis – profits the U.S. carriers finally are earning.

•The fight against the Gulf carriers is a way to rally U.S. airline labor groups in support a management that’s seeking to protect U.S. jobs, thereby making it difficult for labor to fight management for big raises and increases in benefits now that the airlines are making decent money.