Pro-Open Skies Group Tries to Reach Trump Where it Matters — on Cable TV
Photo Credit: Fedex relies on Open Skies agreements with the United Arab Emirates to operate a logistics hub in Dubai. Pictured is a Fedex Boeing 777. Federal Express / FedEx
Skift Take
Here's a prediction. The Trump administration may do little on the Open Skies debate. Yes, U.S. airlines probably suffer because of the agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. But plenty of other U.S. interests take advantage of the same agreements to make money.
In a bid to reach President Trump through his favored medium, a trade group representing four influential travel and transportation brands is buying cable TV ads asking the president to retain U.S. Open Skies agreements with all countries, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, telling him he must protect American jobs.
The new advertisement, running this week on Fox News and MSNBC, comes from the U.S. Airlines For Open Skies coalition, a group funded by Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Federal Express and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. All four companies benefit from Open Skies agreements in the Middle East and elsewhere— and they claim their employees do, too.
"American Airlines, United and Delta want President Trump to limit competition,
