US to hold informal talks with Gulf states, but takes no action on Open Skies

The US State Department has informed US airlines and labor groups that it will not formally reopen negotiations on Open Skies agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, but instead will engage the Gulf countries in informal talks over alleged subsidies to Gulf airlines. The decision appears to put the Trump administration in the same place as the Obama administration—willing to informally discuss the issue with the UAE and Qatar, but not willing to impose any ...