OpenSkies.travel today released the results of a U.S. consumer survey, conducted online using Google Consumer Surveys, among 2,546 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The survey found that 89% of Americans who have traveled internationally or outside of the United States by airplane agreed that they support U.S. government Open Skies policy objectives, “to lower airfares and provide more convenient travel options.” In addition, 67% of Americans agreed that, “the government should not give into U.S. airlines’ demands that foreign airline expansion into the U.S. be stopped.”
“These results should be a wake-up call for the U.S. Departments of Transportation, State and Commerce,” said Kevin Mitchell, OpenSkies.travel and Business Travel Coalition founder. “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.