Indeed, the "apology" was not an apology about the message's/talking points' nasty insinuation that DL & Co. wants spreading out there to increase the pressure on the USG to protect them and their allied European airlines from EK/EY/QR.
Tim Clark on CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/02...lark-intvu.cnn
I think that was a pretty firm response - I generally think Tim Clark brings up interesting points and that's also true of this interview.
He brought up the fact that the report hasn't been shared with them - interestingly, he didn't specifically deny subsidies (but he did a few days ago in a written statement). I guess no one can fault him for that considering that Delta et al haven't been specific about their allegations either.
I do like that he brought up Saudia. I'm actually curious about what he meant by the comments possibly being "dealt with at the government and state level" though.
The UAE government reps and lobbyists have been hitting up US officials complaining about this nasty PR campaign run by DL and its surrogates. I don't know what the Qatari government is doing in response at this point.