Miami: Qatar Airways Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, hit out first against American and European carriers at the industry's largest annual meeting on Monday amid the ongoing spat over allegations of subsidies.
Al Baker, speaking at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) meet in Miami, said he wanted the group to address "the issue of protectionism" from certain European and American carriers.
"Any drawback of liberal market access and open sky policies will reverberate across the whole world and lead to trade protectionism," Al Baker warned.
The United States' three biggest carriers; Delta, United and American, claim that the major Gulf airlines; Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways, are state subsidised to the tune of billions of dollars.
The US airlines want their government to restrict the access the Gulf airlines have to the country because they say the subsidies breaches the US' open skies agreements with Qatar and the UAE.
Two of Europe's largest airlines; Franco-Dutch Air France and Germany's Lufthansa, have made similar accusations and requests to their governments.
Al Baker made the comments in front of more than 100 airline executives, including those behind the allegations. But despite his efforts, IATA, which represents 250 global airlines, has so far remained neutral on the issue.
Tony Tyler, chief executive of IATA, told reporters the group continues to call for open skies. However, he did not directly address the allegations.
On Saturday, Al Baker met with American Airlines Chairman and Chief Executive, Douglas Parker. American Airlines codeshares on flights with Qatar Airways and both airlines are members of the oneworld alliance.
Douglas said the meeting was amicable but that two executives "simply disagree."
Asked about its partnership with Qatar Airways and a recent decision to deepen a commercial relationship with non-alliance airline Etihad Airways, Douglas said that it's "marketing deals" are separate from its "public policy."
American Airlines can compete with airlines but not governments, he said.
