MICHIGAN 

CHAMBER 

of Commerce 

April 27, 2015 

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

The Honorable John F. Kerry 

Secretary of State 

2201 C Street NW 

Washington, DC 20520 

Dear Mr. Kerry and Mr. Foxx: 

600 South Walnut Street I Lansing, Michigan -+8933-2200 

mtchamber.com I 800-748-0266 toll-free 

As President and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, I lead and represent nearly 6,800 

employers, trade associations an·d local chambers of commerce in all of Michigan's counties. Our 

members alone are responsible for 1.5 million jobs in the state. Every day we work to facilitate the 

competitive economic climate that businesses look for when they're looking to open or to expand. 

Unfortunately, last month we learned that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are massively 

subsidizing their state-owned airlines, severely undercutting their American competitors, and violating 

long-standing Open Skies agreements. In the last decade, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates 

Airline have received over $40 billion in subsidies, grants, equity infusions and interest-free loans, 

among other unfair benefits. Such subsidies have eliminated market-based competition and have 

distorted the market in their favor. American air carriers simply cannot keep up with their rapid 

expansion, especially since so many of the Gulf carriers' new routes are not profitable and flights are 

less than half full. 

The commercial airline i.ndustry is a vital part of Michigan's economy, with an estimated economic 

impact of $17.6 billion in the state. The Capital Region International Airport in Lansing has an economic 

impact of $1 billion and is an important asset to the community. The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne 

County Airport (DTW) is a hub of one of the big three American airlines: Delta Air Lines. Alone, Delta is 

responsible for 7,500 jobs at DTW, lO,OOOjobs across the state and generates $210 million in annual tax 

revenue for Michigan just from their activity at DTW. Michiganders depend on a robust airline industry 

for their livelihood and cannot afford for Qatar and the UAE to continue to undercut competitors with 

their unfair business practices. Michigan businesses become less competitive if our airlines are forced to 

cut back flights and we will all lose if jobs are cut. 

s 10-150505-030 

Leading Businesses. Moving l\l ichigan Forward. j 
/ 

MICHIGAN 

CHAMBER 

of Commerce 

600 South \\'alnut Street I Lansmg, Michigan -+8933-2200 

michambcr.com I 800-7-+8-0266 wll-[rcc 

The actions of Qatar and the UAE not only stunt economic growth in Michigan and across the United 

States, they are also in violation of the Open Skies policies in place between the three countries. If they 

are allowed to continue, American jobs, the American airline industry and American communities are 

threatened. That is why I am respectfully asking that you intervene and ask that Secretary Foxx and 

Secretary Kerry my request is that you open consultations with Qatar and the UAE as a measure to 

restore fair, market-based competition. 

Sincerely, 

{2"*fP-· s~ Richard K. Studley, President & CEO 

Michigan Chamber of Commerce 

Leading Businesses. l\to"ing Michigan Forward. 

s 10-150505-030 
MICHIGAN 

CHAMBER 

of Commerce 

s 10-150505-030 

600 South Walnut Str~ct 

Lansmg. :\.bchigan 48933-2200 

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

, 200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

1Vdshington, DC 20590 

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