Sure. Airlines that actually have to pay full price for their airplanes, pay fair wages etc etc etc, can just go right out and buy 100 777s and compete. And then hire 20 year old Playboy bunny flight attendants. (which of course they fire if they get preggers, or married, or ) Oh, and since we get the same deal on jet fuel as they do, it's cinch. What on earth were we thinking. Dubai is a ripe tomato for the picking. Center of the universe. THE perfect place. (to give the planet an enema) gmafb

 

No, they don't...they give them to the likes of Southwest, JetBlue, and Alaska to entice competition to lower fares at their major airports. They work for the people of the state to save them money.

 

Bender,

Have you actually, you know, flown on premium class EK flights? I have, multiple times, there ain't any "Playboy bunny" flight attendants. Trust me, the usual assortment of Euro, Indian, Asian. Aussie F/As. They probably have 20 or 30 nationalities, but lookers, not so much. Aged 30 instead of 70, yes; worth squiring out of the Irish Village, not so much.

Is the service better than the typical 44 year seniority hags, yes.

I doubt any one of the EK, QR or EY employees think their pay is "unfair". I've talked with, drank with, dined with EK crews and most are happy enough, esp the flight attendants. Yes, the North Americans would rather come home, but the others mostly would be happy to stay. Some say they couldn't afford to go back home. I've flown with former Aussie, European and Japanese EK F/As,all were happy with their time there.

GF

 

Hmm, not sure I understand your point ... The article didn't mention those three but it did mention the Big US3... Not saying other airlines might not benefit in other states, but this does seem to be a subsidy to the Big US3, at the expense of other U.S. airlines. So, I expect those on here to be equally outraged at this unfair subsidy?

On Wednesday, March 18, a majority of the North Carolina Senate signed onto an economic incentive bill that would let American Airlines’ handout expire at the end of the year. The break is a cap on the amount of sales tax on jet fuel American pays, expected to be worth $15.5 million next year.

On Thursday, March 19, the Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee voted in favor of a bill to close a tax loophole that United Airlines and American Airlines use to avoid paying millions in local sales taxes.

On Friday, March 20, the Georgia Senate passed a transportation funding package that would end Delta Air Lines’ tax break. The bill, which passed the House earlier in March, would eliminate the state’s estimated $25 million sales tax break on jet fuel for airlines.

 

Of course they do.. Many come from Thailand and t the Philippines where hookers make more than doctors. But worker salaries isn{t the real issue anyway, and the ¨playboy bunny¨ comment was a jab at those that are always saying that it would make a difference.

Why don't you address the real issue raised in my post. You know the one about US taxpayer and UAE subsidized purchases of airplanes that AMERICAN companies have no access to?

 

Chump change. Politicians being politicians. ¨Oh look, I am going after those evil companies that are finally making profits since Wilbur and Orvil¨

 

Bender

The Ex-Im bank was a idea in '30s as part of the New Deal; the idea was to help unionized American workers, which it does. I don't support the idea; I don't support EU incentives for Airbus, either. The Bank is another example of crony captitalism, but try going against the Boeing unions in DC.

GF

 

So, subsidies are ok ... It is just the amount that concerns you?

And by your quote, if these companies are just now making profits, how did they stay in business rather than liquidate? Some sort of government-backed or guaranteed loan (subsidy)?

 

I don't know about you but I don't consider a tax break is not a subsidy. That's just insipid spin. But like I said, it's chump change compared to the subsidies you are getting, and you are being subsidized by a country that isn't even your own. It's bad enough you get subsidies from the emirates, but from the USA to boot? Really?

 

Boeing unions are killing themselves as witnessed by BA moving a plans to South Carolina. More and more of that happening, and they'll be on the endangered list. But as to it "helping" unionized workers, while it might be helping the 150,000 or so Boeing workers, it is endangering the 250,000 or so airline workers in the same shot. Those numbers are not exact, but I'll betcha they are pretty close. But it's like everything in DC, once it is set in stone, it never changes. So hopefully we can prove the me airlines are cheating and get them thrown out.