London: Emirates airline President Tim Clark has told reporters he has invited the United States government to look at the airlines financials in a bid to dismiss allegations of state subsidies,
The US’ three largest carriers, Delta, United and American, have submitted a 55-page whitepaper to the Whitehouse and Congress that alleges Emirates, along with Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, have benefited from over $40 billion in state subsidies in the past decade.
‘We are an unsubsidised carrier, always have been. We operate on a commercial basis, we are required to. We have no access to cheap funding by the government of Dubai, we have no access to free fuel,” Clark said at a press conference in London on Friday announcing a $9.2 billion deal for Rolls-Royce to supply engines to 50 of the airlines Airbus A380s.
“All the things that are thrown [at us] we will deal with that reasonably and fairly and I hope [after that] it will be put to bed once and for all,” he added.
Clark visited the US last month where he said he me met with undersecretaries from the US State Department, Department of Transport and Department of Commerce. Clark said he has invited them to Emirates headquarters in Dubai to look at the airlines books and that he would also explain any questions the government may have over any transaction.
Allegations of state subsidies have been lobbied against the three major Gulf carriers for several years, however, the latest claims look to curtail the growth of the three carriers. The US airlines want the US government to axe open skies agreements with the UAE and Qatar because they argue the allege subsides breach the US’ open skies agreement and help the Gulf airlines unfairly take market share from US airlines.
Clark has repeatedly dismissed the allegations and on Friday said, “we are not seeking to take down or damage other carriers.
