As talk continues over whether three Gulf carriers are unfairly subsidized by their governments, a new survey shows most support the U.S. government’s current Open Skies agreements.

Commissioned by the Business Travel Coalition’s spinoff group OpenSkies.travel, the survey showed an overwhelming majority, 89 percent, support Open Skies policy objectives “to lower airfares and provide more convenient travel options.” Additionally, 67 percent agreed that “the government should not give in to U.S. airlines’ demands that foreign airline expansion into the U.S. be stopped.”

Kevin Mitchell, founder of Business Travel Coalition, believes the survey results should be a “wake-up call” for U.S. government officials. “Consumers, as the most important aviation policy stakeholder, realize the significant benefits to them and their communities from our Open Skies policy and see straight through the U.S. airlines’ allegations of unfair Gulf carrier competition as nothing more than blatant commercial protectionism,” said Mitchell.

United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines allege Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways received $42 billion in illegal subsidies from their governments over the past decade. The three Gulf carriers deny unfair subsidies. The three major U.S. airlines asked the U.S. government to seek discussions with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on how to resolve what they believe are violations o f so-called Open Skies policies with those countries and to stop Gulf airlines from adding more service to the United States.

“Allowing the Big Three to hijack the public-policy-making process and to deny consumers access to competitive options and alternatives would completely undermine and reverse the goals and principles of U.S. Open Skies policy,” said Charles Leocha, chairman of Travelers United and founding member of OpenSkies.travel.

The survey was conducted online by Google Consumer Surveys and is based on 2,546 responses from consumers who said they have flown internationally, according to OpenSkies.travel.

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