Tips:TTFnews: Research commissioned by Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has quantified a range of government and court-sanctioned benefits and concessions received by the three biggest U.S. carriers, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines Group, and other airlines with which they have merged.
These U.S. airlines have received benefits valued at US$71.48 billion, more than US$70 billion of which has been since 2000, enabling the nation's three largest carriers to transition from the verge of bankruptcy to today's industry leaders, each achieving multi-billion dollar profits.
Last year, the three big U.S. carriers generated collective net profits of US$8.97 billion, equivalent to 45 percent of the total US$19.9 billion profits achieved in 2014 by the global airline industry. The trend has continued into 2015, with all three major U.S. airlines announcing strong net profits for the first quarter.
The international consultancy The Risk Advisory Group, which conducted the research for Etihad Airways, identified that the majority of benefits which accrued to Delta, United and American came from restructuring under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code, yielding them at least US$35.46 billion, and additional pension fund bailouts totalling US$29.4 billion from the U.S. Government's Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Releasing the findings by The Risk Advisory Group, the General Counsel and Company Secretary of Etihad Airways, Jim Callaghan, said today: "We do not question the legitimacy of benefits provided to U.S. carriers by the U.S. government and the bankruptcy courts."
"We simply wish to highlight the fact that U.S. carriers have been benefitting and continue to benefit from a highly favorable legal regime, such as bankruptcy protection and pension guarantees, exemptions from certain taxes, and various other benefits. These benefits, which are generally only available to U.S. carriers, have created a highly distorted market in which carriers such as Etihad Airways have to compete."
Mr Callaghan said the figures produced by The Risk Advisory Group were conservative, quantifiable and credible, and obtained from public records and statements.
Mr Callaghan referred to a 2011 interview, published by America's National Public Radio, in which a former Vice President of Continental Airlines, Pete Garcia, was quoted as saying:"Bankruptcy, for the airline industry in particular, is just a way to refinance the business. It is a financial move to keep you in business and give you time to renegotiate with your lenders."
The Risk Advisory Group identified the largest beneficiaries of Chapter 11 restructuring and bailouts from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as:
United Airlines, with combined benefits estimated at US$44.4 billion;
Delta Air Lines with combined benefits estimated at US$15.02 billion; and
American Airlines with combined benefits estimated at US$12.05 billion.
Of these figures:
United achieved one-time bankruptcy debt relief totalling US$26 billion, and pension termination benefits totalling US$16.8 billion;
Delta Air Lines achieved bankruptcy debt relief totalling US$7.9 billion, and pension termination benefits totalling US$4.55 billion; and
American Airlines achieved bankruptcy debt relief totalling US$1.56 billion, and pension termination benefits of US$8.08 billion.
These figures include restructuring and bailout benefits achieved by other U.S. airlines, since absorbed by Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines.
Mr Callaghan said the current claims by United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines that they were being harmed by Etihad Airways were baseless, and an attempt to obstruct higher-quality competition.
"There is no evidence whatsoever of any harm caused by Etihad Airways to any of the three big U.S. airlines," Mr Callaghan said.
"The U.S. Open Skies policy has delivered more choice and better service for millions of consumers, more airline access to and from America, and record profits for the biggest airlines in the U.S. It is time to refocus on the real issue here - that the Open Skies policy is delivering the benefits it was designed to deliver, and that everyone is a winner."
about The Risk Advisory Group
The Risk Advisory Group is a leading independent global risk consultancy that helps businesses grow whilst protecting their people, their assets and their brands. By providing facts, intelligence and analysis, The Risk Advisory Group helps its clients negotiate complex and uncertain environments to choose the right opportunities, in the right markets, with the right partners. The company was founded in 1997, employs 140 people and has offices in Washington DC, London, Moscow, Al Khobar, Dubai and Hong Kong.
