(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Etihad Airways headquarters in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi (file). Etihad Airways' contribution to the US economy will almost double to $6.2bn by 2020, it said yesterday, in an apparent counter to allegations that government subsidies gave it an unfair edge over competition.
The airline will support the American economy with 23,400 jobs and $2.9bn in 2015, according to research by Oxford Economics, Etihad said in a statement. Both the figures will nearly double by 2020 as Etihad increases operating expenditure and capital investment. Etihad said the study assessed its capital expenditure with US suppliers and its operating expenditure, as well the impact of passengers it brought into the country.
Three US airlines - Delta, United and American, earlier this year launched a campaign, asking for their Open Skies pact with Gulf carriers to be altered. In a lengthy report, the airlines accused Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways of
taking $40bn in government subsidies, allowing them to lower prices and push US competitors out of certain markets.
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