DAVID I

. RAMADAN**2~0~0** RIDING PLAZA# I**30·6~0** SOUTH RIDING, VIRGINIA 20 I**~2** EIGHTY-SEVENTH DISTRICT
The Honorable John Kerry Secretary ofState U.S. Department ofState 2201 CStreet, NW Washington, DC 20520 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES RICHMOND

The HonorableAnthony Foxx SecretaryofTransportation U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 The Honorable Penny S. Pritzker SecretaryofCommerce U

.S. Department ofCommerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS GENERAL LAWS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Re: Dockets No. DOS-2015-0016, DOT-OST-2015-0082, and DOC-2015-0001
Dear Secretaries Kerry, Foxx and Pritzker: As a member ofthe Virginia House ofDelegates and Co-Chairman ofthe Business Development Caucus, I urgeyou notto renegotiate the Open Skies agreements
. Iwas born and raised in Lebanon and currently do business in the Middle East helping American franchise companies expand to that marketand beyond to Asia; and thus I know firsthand the value of 'Open Skies'! Itis imperative that the United States maintain its existing travel relationships with the GulfStates established by these agreements to preserve competition and a free marketin the airline industry.
Ifthe governmentprevents Etihad Airways, QatarAirways and Emirates from offering service between the United States and the Middle East, US citizens traveling to the Middle East and Asia for business and pleasure will lose access to the low-cost options and quality ofservice that they deserve and should expect.

DISTRICT· (703) 348·70 I 5 • RICHMOND <804> 698·1087 • E-MAIL: DELDRAMADAN@HOUSE .VI RGINIA .GOVThroughoutthe lastfewyears, our domestic airlines have consolidated to reduce costs and, as they have said, to offer better services to our constituents. When American Airlines and US Airways closed their merger in December 2013, they said that their "customers will soon enjoy access to more benefits and increased service" through a combined airline. Ayear after their merger, however, one has to ask how ourtravelers have benefitted from this deal and the otherU.S. airline consolidations. Fares have remained high, travelers are still subjected to additional fees and service remains inconsistent. While I still travel to the Middle East on United due to my preferenceto buy American services and products, ourconstituents are unhappy with the U.S. airlines, as Delta, United and American scored significantly lowerratings on a 2014 passenger survey than their GulfState counterparts, which all ranked in the top 10. The Gulfbased airlines offer the level ofservice the U.S. airlines should be providing. They have invested significant resources in acquiring new fleets ofstate-of-the-art planes and have expanded their international service between the United States and the Middle East to provideadditional, lower cost options for travelers. I would love to see our US airlines competing on thatlevel ofservice -but not by stifling competition!! Ialso find it ironic that the "Big 3" domestic carriers are whining about "subsidies" when they have received billions in bankruptcy protections, pension bailouts and U.S. government handouts. We Americans take pride in our open markets and free trade principals. I represent Virginia's 87th House Districtwhich is home to Dulles Airport. My constituents want more competition and the best service money can buy. Please keep the Open Skies agreements with the GulfStates in place and send a message to the U.S. airlines that ifthey are unhappywith the competition from Etihad, Qatarand Emirates, they need to improve their own services. Sincerely,

David Ramadan