In a bizarre escalation of the ongoing feud between Gulf airlines and U.S. rivals, Delta Air Lines has accused Qatar Airways of violating "basic human rights."

The accusations come as Qatar Airways is set to launch its non-stop service between Doha and Delta Air Lines' main hub, Atlanta. To kickoff its latest expansion, the Qatari airline hired American pop star Jennifer Lopez to perform at Atlanta's historic Fox Theatre, an institution Delta Air Lines sponsors.

However, in what can only be interpreted as a threat to institutions doing business with Qatar Airways, Delta Air Lines has announced that it would not be renewing its sponsorship of the Fox Theatre, one of Atlanta's leading cultural and historical centers.

"When the Fox shared its decision to continue doing business with Qatar, an airline proven to engage in business practices that harm U.S. aviation jobs and violate basic human rights, we let them know we wouldn’t be renewing our sponsorship," the American airline said in a statement, according to Bloomberg .

Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, quickly responded saying, "It’s really bizarre that they are so paranoid of Qatar Airways’ service. This shows that they have absolute disregard for the famous institutions of Atlanta."

Furthermore, besides Delta Air Lines "disregard" for a leading cultural institution within its own city, the claims of violating "basic human rights" are, to say the least, a bit overblown. While the Qatari airline faced criticism last year over policies regarding female flight attendants, it has since taken steps to change the policies.

The escalating feud between Gulf carriers – Etihad Airways, Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways – and U.S. competitors – American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines – centers around an alleged $42 billion in subsidies that the Gulf airlines have received from their respective governments.

However, Etihad Airways responded last year, pointing out that the U.S. airlines have received more than $70 billion in subsidies from their government as well. However, Etihad Airways was quick to point out that it wasn't saying this out of criticism, but just to point out the hypocrisy.

"We do not question the legitimacy of benefits provided to U.S. carriers by the U.S. government and the bankruptcy courts," Etihad General Counsel Jim Callaghan said in a press release at the time. "We simply wish to highlight the fact that U.S. carriers have been benefitting and continue to benefit from a highly favorable legal regime, such as bankruptcy protection and pension guarantees, exemptions from certain taxes, and various other benefits."

As far as the accusations of harming "U.S. aviation jobs," Baker pointed out in October that to the contrary, his airline is "constantly creating new jobs for the Americans by ordering more airplanes and expanding our network as we add frequencies into the United States," according to AFP .