Apparently his sarcasm filter is faulty.

If NAI set up a company and operated out of an EU country, there wouldn't be as much of a concern. It's the cabotage feature that alarms people, the setting up of a shell company in Ireland to take advantage of EU's lucrative open skies treaty, but not using the EU's comprehensive labor laws, maint regulation, and oversight.

Indeed, but unfortunately, there isn't one set of EU labour laws - each member country has it's own which are to be followed/exploited. The larger, more influential EU states have very robust and strong labour laws, but many don't. It is a shame that such disparity exists, such is life.

As for oversight; that really isn't what the EU free trade practice is about. It was more an idea to break down barriers to international trade. In almost all instances (EU open skies being a notable exception), each state operates completely independently, with ease of trade access with one another. That's backfired in many ways! There are, for want of a better word 'master documents' in some areas of regulations, like EASA/JAA/WHATEVER, but they're frankly very loose, and each state has large variances from it, and from one-another.

It's sadly far too complex to implement one set of laws for obvious reasons, so companies like NAI can cherry pick what they can get away with.

Um, ok, I'll bite. Firstly, NAI is not the only company taking advantage of loop holes or perhaps you have not been watching the news lately, Panama Papers, John Cameron anyone???

Secondly, you do realize that Pan Am, TWA and Later, Delta, all had intra European hubs back in the day AND tons of 3/4/5th freedom rights.

The REAL reason the U.S. carriers want to fight NAI AND the Middle East carriers is because of competition-period! The hypocrisy astounds me.

See back in the day the U.S. carriers were great and the foreign carriers, not so much but that changed. The U.S. carriers are atrocious and the foreign carriers are far better. Ex; CX is far better to fly on than UAL to Hong Kong. BA is better to London than just about anyone else.

NAI will bring competition and that means lower prices which means less ability to GAUGE their customers as the U.S. carriers do.

They tried to kill SWA back in the early 70s but SWA revolutionized the airline industry.

NAI is the new Uber. Let them come. Beat them at their own game I say.

Rant finished.

David Cameron*

But otherwise, not a bad rant. Accurate, succinct, lacked some brevity.

8/10.

Looks like a perfect new code share for B6... FML

What was it that Warren Buffet said about the US airline industry? Something about if a capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk, he would have shot the Wright Brothers down?

Even after this short period of relative prosperity (helped considerably by low fuel), the US airline industry has still lost far more money over its history than it has ever earned. What has been considered decent profit margins during good times in this industry would be viewed as unacceptable in most others.

Does that sound like an industry that has been gouging its customers, as you contend?

If you are backed by the Treasurey of your home country that has launched a Manhattan type of project in an attempt to diversify the economy, then it is no wonder that you can offer more for less.

And Jennifer Anniston can have her mile high shower.

It's not just the Middle East that offer more for less. It's all of the European and Asian carriers which operate to the US.

ANA, JAL, CX, TL, BA, LH, KLM, VS, AF, the list is enormous. All completely private enterprises, most have no restructuring opportunities of they fail, no Ch.11 to hide behind.

All offering FAR more than DL/AA/UA. Usually cheaper.

No wonder the legacies are having s for about this. They're an embarrassment on the world stage.

JAL? No, no BK there.
After bankruptcy and makeover, Japan Airlines returns | Reuters

I cannot believe that any professional airline pilot on this forum is arguing in favor of this. Even if you are not flying for one of "The Big Three", those airlines SET THE BAR WORLDWIDE in terms of pilot compensation, quality of life, and retirement: Period. Full stop. End of story.

Whatever negative shockwaves strike the top tier of the industry will resonate throughout every distant corner of it: Major, National, Foreign, Regional, 135... EVERYTHING.

Anyone who gloats or wraps themselves in schadenfreude due to this development is truly shooting themselves in the foot.