United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) has announced it will discontinue ticketing and baggage interline agreements with five Middle Eastern carriers with effect from May 5, 2017.

According to an internal company communique seen by Skift, United said its decision to break its commercial ties with Emirates, flydubai, Qatar Airways, Saudia, and Royal Jordanian is in protest at their alleged continued access to state subsidization.

United, along with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines (the "US3"), have collectively alleged that Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) (the "ME3") effectively operate as state-owned entities. As such, unlike the privately-owned US carriers, they enjoy the benefits of national funding and discounted access to local facilities and supplies which allow them to undercut the competition. This, the US carriers argue, has artificially distorted the global travel market in their favour - the US market in particular.

For their part, the ME3 have rejected the US3's accusations as false and baseless.