News: Delta Airlines CEO links UAE, Qatar airlines to 9/11

Delta Airlines has provided this updated statement apologizing for CEO Richard Anderson’s 9/11 allusion:

“Richard was reacting to claims the gulf carriers have been making that US airlines received subsidies in the form of payments from the US government after the 9/11 attacks and the bankruptcy proceedings that resulted. He didn’t mean to suggest the gulf carriers or their governments are linked to the 9/11 terrorists. We apologize if anyone was offended.” 

A dispute between U.S.-based airlines and the surging Mideast-based airlines — Qatar, Emirates and Etihad — has now gone from tense to downright nasty, with two powerful airline CEO’s exchanging harsh, “I-can’t-believe-he-went-there” insults on live TV.
Delta CEO Richard Anderson went on CNN on Monday to discuss U.S. claims that Gulf-based air carriers unfairly are getting subsidies from their governments. When CNN’s Richard Quest brought up the Gulf airlines’ claims that U.S. airlines have also gotten government subsidies, in the form of federal bankruptcy protection, Anderson dropped the hammer, making a controversial reference to the Sept. 11 attacks.