Originally Posted by Elvis90 (Post 1592915)

This article came today in the Wall Street Journal. Now, in addition to Abu Dhabi, we have to be concerned about Doha and Qatari Airways.
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Qatar in Talks Over U.S. 'Preclearance' Customs Facility

By RORY JONES

Updated March 1, 2014 9:09 a.m. ET

A 787 Dreamliner owned by Qatar Airways stands on display at the Singapore Airshow in February. The new airport serving Qatar's capital, Doha, is in talks for a U.S. 'preclearance' customs facility. Bloomberg News

Qatar is the latest Persian Gulf country to apply for a controversial U.S. "preclearance" customs post, a development that could offer the region's government-owned carriers an advantage over other airlines.

Doha's new international airport, which is expected to open later this year, is in talks with U.S. authorities over such a post, according to Akbar Al Baker, the chief executive of Qatar Airways.

A similar U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility that opened in Abu Dhabi earlier this year led to an uproar among U.S. pilot associations, which claim such posts would give Gulf carriers an unfair advantage over peers. The facility allows passengers to go through U.S. customs before boarding their flight and thus bypass the process after arriving in the U.S.

"This will enhance our product as we are growing in the United States," Mr. Al Baker told reporters Saturday.

The growth of the Gulf region's three biggest carriers--Qatar, Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways--has irked some European and U.S. carriers, which have complained the Gulf airlines are funded by deep-pocketed governments that subsidize their cost base.

The Air Line Pilots Association--the largest pilot union in the U.S., representing some 50,000 pilots--has objected to the Abu Dhabi facility, previously calling it an "example of bad U.S. government policy."

Abu Dhabi, whose preclearance facility opened in January, was the 15th airport to secure such a post. Ireland's Shannon Airport was the first outside North America to open one of the U.S. facilities. Similar posts exist in Dublin and several Canadian airports as well as in Bermuda, Aruba and the Bahamas.

Etihad, which is based at the Abu Dhabi airport, plans to increase flights to New York this month and will launch service to Los Angeles in June and Dallas-Fort Worth in December. No U.S. carriers currently fly to Abu Dhabi, which is paying for about 85% of its preclearance facility.

The two other large Gulf carriers are also aggressively expanding in the U.S. market. Qatar plans to start service to Miami, Philadelphia and Dallas-Fort Worth this year, in addition to its routes to New York, Washington, Chicago and Houston. Emirates said last week it intends to begin service to Chicago and will start flights to Boston from Dubai this month.

Dubai, which operates the world's second-busiest airport for international traffic, has also expressed an interest in setting up a preclearance facility.

Write to Rory Jones at [email protected]

Originally Posted by NERD (Post 1593028)

Biting tongue......:mad:

Originally Posted by UGBSM (Post 1593295)

OMG, you think the FA's even hear what you're blabbing about? All they hear is "prepare for departure". That's it. Nobody cares about the rest. Some pilots just like to hear themselves talk.

Every PA is an interruption. Use only when absolutely necessary. You're not the tour guide on the jungle cruise ride at the amusement park. People have iPhones now. They know what the temperature is... everywhere.

Originally Posted by UGBSM (Post 1593295)

OMG, you think the FA's even hear what you're blabbing about? All they hear is "prepare for departure". That's it. Nobody cares about the rest. Some pilots just like to hear themselves talk.

Every PA is an interruption. Use only when absolutely necessary. You're not the tour guide on the jungle cruise ride at the amusement park. People have iPhones now. They know what the temperature is... everywhere.

Originally Posted by DeadHead (Post 1593041)

Quick question.....Anyone been able to delay/postpone a training date after an Advanced Entitlement Award?

Obviously training early is not an option because it's seniority based, but I was thinking postponing it might be an option if it still a few months away. Just curious as to see if anyone else here has been in the situation.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1593305)

The camels will continue to fart in our faces until we get a president that will stand up to them and a congress that will accept no more bribes from foreign governments.

Originally Posted by DeadHead (Post 1593041)

Obviously training early is not an option because it's seniority based, ...

Originally Posted by buzzpat (Post 1593165)

Uh, ahem, never mind. I greatly appreciate your posts and knowledge of our industry. I think you greatly misunderstand how the furloughs went down and what was negotiated contractually long before you came onto the property. And, I stand by my previous post....I was amazed at the attitude of the new hires in 08 when I came back six years after having my cheese moved. Truly unbelievable and, certainly, not fraternal.

Originally Posted by UGBSM (Post 1593295)

OMG, you think the FA's even hear what you're blabbing about? All they hear is "prepare for departure". That's it. Nobody cares about the rest. Some pilots just like to hear themselves talk.

Every PA is an interruption. Use only when absolutely necessary. You're not the tour guide on the jungle cruise ride at the amusement park. People have iPhones now. They know what the temperature is... everywhere.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1593305)

The camels will continue to fart in our faces until we get a president that will stand up to them and a congress that will accept no more bribes from foreign governments.