Global Airlines: Is it a fair playing field ?

     The US-UAE Open skies agreement grants each party the right to fly over their territory without landing, the right to make stops in their territory for non-traffic purposes and other rights specified in the agreement. This agreement was designed to promote international aviation and eliminate government involvement. It aims to create a freer environment for the international commercial aviation industry. Delta and United are two American long haul carriers that had received $42 billion in what's reportedly "unfair" government subsidies in 2015 according th the business insider.
    In a report from "View from the wing" US airlines have received more subsidies than middle east carriers. In 1999 the congressional research service put out a paper detailing government subsidies for US airlines. Between 1918 and 1998 the government spent $150 billion in support of aviation. Also in the 40's and 50's subsidies to US airlines were a huge political issue for the railroads.

REFERENCES

Leff, Gary. US Airlines Have Received More Subsidies Than Middle East Ones. April 8, 2015. https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/04/08/us-airlines-have-received-more-subsidies-than-middle-east-ones/
Congressional Research Service. Report RL30050. Aviation Direct Spending, 1918 - 1998. February 3, 1999. https://file.wikileaks.org/file/crs/RL30050.pdf