As a foreign carrier, it is not subject to federal restrictions.
Complaints by Americans against foreign carriers rose from 109 to 233 in the same period.
Foreign carriers will be limited to a 25 percent stake.
This allowed a fair competition between national and foreign carriers.
One result has been the invasion of the world's largest single air market by foreign carriers.
He said no country had ever given such wide rights to a foreign carrier to operate from its own cities to other countries.
He added, "We welcome applications from other foreign carriers under this program."
It does, of course, face competition from foreign carriers on most routes.
But not all foreign carriers are hiding behind the $75,000 shield.
Foreign carriers can provide the hammer to drive down high ticket prices.