THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

The Honorable Michael H. Michaud 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Michaud: 

April 03, 2014 

Thank you for your letter regarding the application ofNorwegian Air International Limited 

(NAI) for authority to conduct U.S. services. 

Given that a number of interested parties have filed responsive pleadings to NAI's application 

and this matter is currently pending before the Department, I am sure you understand that I 

cannot comment on the merits ofNAI's application. I assure you, however, that we will give full 

and careful consideration to all of the pleadings filed on the record before we reach a 

determination in this matter. 

As is our standard practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2013-0204, as a contact outside the record ofthis case. You may track the progress 

of this case and view the publicly available documents filed in the docket by accessing the 

Federal Docket Management System at www.regulations.gov and searching for Docket 

DOT-OST-20 13-0204. 

I hope this information is helpful. 

Sincerely, 

Anthony R. Foxx 
MICHAEL H. MICHAUD Co•••.'rnt:es: 

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WASHINGTON OFFICE 

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W ASH•',GTON, DC 20515 

Po10·.r (202) 225-6306 

FAX: (202) 225·2943 

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The Honorable Anthony Foxx 

Secretary 

U.S. Department ofTransportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary Foxx: 

February 6, 2014 

P uBLIC BurLO:·.us Atm 

E MERGENCY EtNIRON\'E ~T 

I write to express concerns with Norwegian Air International Limited's (NAI) 

application for a foreign air carrier permit. As you know, approval of the permit would 

allow NAI to provide commercial air service to and from the United States. The 

Department of Transportation (DOT) is tasked with evaluating the airline's competitive 

position to ensure equality with U.S. air carriers and determining whether such service 

would be in the public interest. I am concerned that NAI's application seeks to undercut 

employment laws and gain an unfair advantage over U.S. carriers. 

It is my understanding that, despite lacking operations in Ireland, NAI intends to 

operate as an Irish airline in order to circumvent Norway's labor laws. Doing so will 

allow the airline to outsource pilots and flight crews tlu·ough a Southeast Asia-based 

company governed by Singapore law. This aiTangement would allow Singapore's inferior 

wage requirements and working condition standards to apply to NAI's flight crews. 

Not only would NAI's operating model put U.S. carriers, and their employees, at 

a competitive disadvantage, it could also jeopardize safety. Without operations through 

Ireland, it is unclear how the Irish Aviation Authority will provide adequate safety 

oversight to NAI. 

It appears as though NAI's intention is to exploit intemationallegal and 

regulatory loopholes in order to gain an unfair competitive advantage over U.S. airlines. 

Approval ofNAI's application would jeopardize American jobs, safety, and I do not 

believe it is in the public interest. I respectfully request that DOT fully consider these 

factors as it reviews NAI's foreign air carrier permit application. Thank you for your 

attention to this request and I look forward to working with you on this important matter. 

BANGOR; 

6 S TATE STREET. S UITE 101 

BANGOR, ME 0440 1 

PHo,.E: (207) 942-6935 . I 

s 10-140206-009 7) 942-5907 

Sincerely, 

Michael H. Michaud 

Member of Congress 

LEWISTON: 

179 L ISOOll STREET, G ROUND FLOOR 

~STON, ME 04240 

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FAX: (207) 782-5330 

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