Southwest Management District

P.O. Box 22167 Houston, TX 77227-2167 May 26, 2015 The Honorable Anthony Foxx Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dockets DOS-2015-0016, DOT-OST-2015-0082, and DOC-2015-0001 Dear Secretary of Transportation: Southwest Management District, which is located in the Greater Houston Area, is an economic development zone with an international character and business orientation. Many of the business owners, managers, consultants, and real estate professionals in the SWMD have lived and worked in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America and understand the international economy and marketplace. Of a workforce of 60,000, two-thirds are multi-lingual, and individuals of Asian background comprise 22% of the population. The District's goal is to become a premier business and residential area. The existence of accessible, inexpensive international air travel in and out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport is essential in meeting this objective. The District is dependent on fast, affordable connections with destinations around the globe to propel our growth. We routinely welcome international business leaders and investors to demonstrate the advantages of locating to and investing in the District. Should the U.S. back out of Open Skies agreements with key air carriers, we are concerned that air travel, particularly to and from cities in Asia, will become more cumbersome and expensive, reducing the competitiveness of the District with other sites. As the District has advanced, its multicultural atmosphere, wide selection of international restaurants, cultural and arts activities and events, etc., are drawing residents and visitors—including international tourists—to the area. We also expect such tourism to fall off in the face of a breakdown in Open Skies. In addition to the negative business and economic impacts, the issue is a personal one for many of our residents, who have family and friends in their countries of origin and who seek to instill in U.S.-born generations a sense of their cultural heritage. International flights are part of this picture. With our growing Asian population, the District is finding the services of the Middle Eastern airlines very important. Many parts of Southeast and South Asia, in particular, are overlooked by U.S. airlines. Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar Airways have helped open new, more direct routes and brought competition that has lowered prices. As the U.S. airlines have demonstrated little interest in flying these routes and were not harmed when the Middle Eastern airlines stepped in, we do not believe there is any basis for renegotiation of their Open Skies agreements. Although unique in its location and mission, the District is representative of other cities, towns, and development districts across the U.S. that are working to attract international investment, business activity, and tourism. We are not alone in the harms we would suffer if the U.S. government decides to side in favor of three highly profitable airlines and against of globally oriented businesses and travelers. We look to you to support the broader objectives of globally focused economic growth and cultural diversity and interaction over the narrow interests of three already dominant companies. Thank you,

~ Alice Lee Executive Director