I think it will form one of the US3+US union attacks: it's a story that looks on first glance, quite plausible, to an uninformed observer and I think is in a similar vein to the Flight Attendants union saying that cabin crew in the ME3 are held in slave-like conditions and are miserable (http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/32202615)

In the way, seeding into the public (or DC at least) consciousness that because the ME3 are cheap airlines they cut corners on safety at first glance might seem plausible, until you look into the matter and learn about global aviation regulation - essentially you need to be as stringent as the toughest regulator of the destinations you fly to: in this case, the US FAA, EU EASA and Australian CASA I think are sufficiently credible regulators.

And further as you pointed out, regulators don't seem to be having problems with the ME3 airlines at all, but US and EU legacies recently - your UA example (http://www.wsj.com/articles/faa-call...ted-1428623965), the German regulator being censured by the EASA for being able to keep a good enough eye on LH as above.

Of course, the unintentional irony of on the one hand attacking airlines for having unlimited cash support and on the other hand being cheap, I think is being deliberately swept under the rug - and hence I suspect the pilots union turn to step up and be the attack dogs will be coming soon!