Final Blog

           Over the past few weeks, we discussed a number of aviation related topics during class and in blog entries. The topic that peaked my interest the most is the topic of foreign airline competition to U.S carriers, specifically, competition to U.S carriers by some airlines in the Middle East.

            Before I go any further, I would like to mention that I am impartial when it comes to this topic, I do not side with one “group” over the other. I believe that U.S carriers have their own valid reasons to feel that certain carriers from the Middle East have an unfair competitive advantage, I also think that those carriers from the Middle East have valid reasons to think that they do not have an advantage over U.S carriers.

            Today, I would like to explore a few issues that surround this topic. The most current issue, in my opinion, is the electronic ban that was recently banned. I would like to explore the effects of this electronic ban. Also, I would like to explore the issue of unfair labor practices that surround Middle East carriers. Additionally, I would like to discuss how U.S carriers might be able to compete more with those carriers for revenue.

            Electronic Ban

            Last month (March 2017), the U.S government issued an electronic ban that affects ten airports in eight countries from the Middle East and Africa. Airports included are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.  This ban prohibits laptop computers, tablets, and other electronic devices from passenger cabins on U.S-bound flights. Medical devices and cellular phones (or smart phones) are not affected by this ban. All other electronic devices must be packed with checked luggage.  Many airlines from the Middle East have been affected by this ban since they operate flights to the United State, including the “big 3” carriers of the Middle East (Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways). Since no carriers from the United States fly to the airports that are on the list, this electronic ban does not affect them. However, carriers from the Middle East had to restructure their operations in order to be in compliance with this ban (Lazo, 2017).

            It should be noted that a person could travel from an airport on the list of the electronic ban to the United States with a transit in Europe without being affected by this electronic ban. Additionally, a person could be simply transiting through an airport on the list to fly to the United States, and he or she would have to comply with the ban (Lazo, 2017).

            While the official reason for the ban is a security concern, many have questioned the reason why the Trump administration enacted this ban.  Some experts believe that the ban is useless because “if a bomb could escape detection in a carry-on, then it can escape detection in checked luggage as well” (Engel 2017). There are business implications on carriers from the Middle East because of this ban. Some of the passengers who travel on those carriers such as Emirates or Etihad are connecting to other parts of the world. Many business travelers are against checking in their laptops and would seek other airlines to get to their destinations (Engel 2017).

            Earlier today, Emirates has announced that it will be cutting flights to the United States and the airline cited that the electronic ban and visa restrictions are behind this decision. Because of the ban and visa restriction, demand on flights to and from the United States has weakened.  25 flights per week have been reduced over all (Slotkin, 2017).

            Unfair Labor Practices

            Some have argued that airlines some Middle Eastern carriers that fly to the United States have unfair and unethical labor practices. Unions that represent flight attendants and other employees that work for U.S carriers have asserted that the hiring practices of Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways are “repugnant”. The three Middle Eastern airlines, according to those unions, require female employees to obtain permits before getting pregnant or getting married. These airlines also ban members from the LGBTQ communities from working for them (Strunsky, 2015).

            On a personal level, I do agree with the fact that the labor practices of these airlines are unethical, however, I feel that targeting them specifically just to smear them for the benefit of U.S carriers is unfair. If we as consumers are going to target the big three carriers of the Middle East for their unethical labor practices, then we have to target all other carriers that operate to the United States which could potentially have unfair labor practices as well.

            Could U.S Carriers Add More Flights?

            Because it was noted earlier that the U.S carriers were not affected by the electronic ban on flights from ten airports including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, it was proven that U.S carriers do not fly to those countries where the competition is stemming from.

            I believe that U.S carriers should explore the idea of adding more flights to those cities. They do not have to be nonstop flights. Maybe they could explore the idea of using fifth freedom rights to add flights to those cities from other areas of the world. Even if those routes are not initially profitable, they could be used to show Middle Eastern carriers that “they are there” to compete and to protect their market.

References:

Lazo, L (2017). What You Need to Know About the Airline Electronics Ban.

The Washington Post Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-   gridlock/wp/2017/03/23/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-airline-electronics-ban/?utm_term=.d75902143195     

Engel, P (2017). Tech and Terrorist Experts Question Trump’s Airline Electronic   

             Ban: ‘It Absolutely Makes no Sense’. Business Insider. Retrieved From: 

http://www.businessinsider.com/experts-trump-airline-electronics-ban-2017-3

Slotkin, J. (2017). Emirates Airlines Cuts Flights To U.S, Citing Trump’s                       

Security Rules. National Public Radio. Retrieved from:   

 http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/19/5247

18514/  emirates-airline-cuts-flights-to-u-s-citing-trumps-

security-rules

Strunsky, S. (2015). U.S Flight Attendant Unions Say Gulf Airlines

Have Sexist and Anti-Gay Employment Policies. True Jersey.

Retrieved from: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf

/2015/03/us_unions_say_arab_airlines_a re_sexist_and_anti-ga.html