I. 

RESOLUTION 

OF THE DCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

May 1, 2015 

RESTORING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD 

THROUGH OPEN SKIES POLICY 

WHEREAS, the Downriver Community Conference (DCC), a consortium of twenty Downriver 

communities in Wayne County whose total population is approximately 500,000, has 

joined in an effort to improve local government and enhance the quality of life for area 

residents through municipal cooperation; and 

WHE;REAS, for decades Open Skies agreements have brought great benefits to U.S. travelers, U.S. 

airlines and the U.S. economy by creating a framework for competitive, fair market air 

travel between countries; and 

WHEREAS, Wayne County plays host to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DlW) which is critical to our 

business development and economic growth, with Delta Airlines offering over 465 daily 

flights to 125 destinations and being one of the our country's largest employers with 7,500 

Delta jobs at DTW and 10,000 jobs including Delta carrier connections throughout the 

state; and 

WHEREAS, the economic impact of the commercial airline industry in Michigan is close to $18 

billion in statewide economic activity and over $210 million in annual tax revenue for 

the State of Michigan; and 

WHEREAS, American companies and U.S. carriers do best when they can compete in an open and 

fair market that promotes a level playing field for all; and 

WHEREAS, the natiqns of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have violated Open Skies 

policy by funneling over $40 billion in government subsidies and other unfair benefits to 

their state-owned airlines (Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline), 

distorting the international aviation market and undermining fair competition; and 

WHEREAS, these subsidies pose a direct threat to the U.S. airline industry, threatening Downriver 

community jobs, and thousands of American jobs where as at least 800 U.S. jobs 

would be lost per each roundtrip international flight lost to these carriers; and 

WHEREAS, unfair competition from the Gulf carriers could have negative economic impact on 

American carriers that could lead to the elimination of flights and routes to mid-sized and 

smaller American cities; and 

WHEREAS, the governments of Qatar and UAE have banned unions and suppress the rights of their 

employees, saving their carriers billions of dollars from below-market labor costs; and 

WHEREAS, Congress members Walberg, Upton, Huizenga, Conyers, Trott, Lawrence, Benishek, 

Levin, Moolenaar, Bishop, Dingell, Kildee, Miller and other elected officials across 

Michigan, the Airline Pilots Association International, the Association of Flight Attendants, 

the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Communications Workers of America, 

the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and the Transport Workers Union of America 

are in support of consultations. 
RESOLUTION - RESTORING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD 

THROUGH THE OPEN SKIES POLICY 

Page 2- May 7, 2015 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Downriver Community Conference Board of Directors, 

representing 20 member communities, urges the U.S. Government and the Departments of State, 

Transportation, and Commerce, to initiate consultations with Qatar and the UAE as provided for within 

the Open Skies agreements to address this issue; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Downriver Community Conference Board of Directors also asks 

the U.S. Government to request a freeze on new capacity from the Gulf carriers to the U.S. while these 

consultations are going forward. 

CERTIFICATION 

The undersigned duly qualified Board Secretary of the Downriver Community Conference certifies that 

the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted at a legally convened meeting of the 

Board of the Downriver Community Conference held on ~7. 2015. and that said resolution has not 

beenrescinded. JJer$--

secretary 

DAVID A. GLAAB 
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