94 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206; (518) 465-4600; www.citizenactionnv
.org
The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx Secretary ofTransportation US Depqrtment ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State US Department of State 2201 CStreet NW Washington, 20520 The Honorable Penny Pritzker US Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20230 April 30, 2015

' ' 

## . Dear Secretary Foxx, Secretary Kerry and Secre
. tary Pritzker, 

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## .

. _ , 

### .·. I am writing to you today about an important step we can take·to help :protect**high~paying** jobs that ate ··**e~~~~ tial**  

## Wpowering prosP,erity to communities throughout
.the State of New York. Over the past 10 years, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline have received at least $42 billion in government subsidies and other unfair benefits in violation of U.S. Open Skies policy. Citizen Action is asking that the U.S. government open consultations with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in order to address the huge subsidies that those nations provide their state-owned airlines. We also believe the U.S. government should seek a freeze on the introduction of new passenger service by the Gulfcarriers during these**co~sultations.** The tens of billions of dollars in subsidies for state-owned Gulf carriers is contributing to excess capacity, which draws-passengers and revenue from U
.S. airlines. If US.-based airlines continue
. to lose market share, it will lead to service cuts and ultimately American job losses. According to a white paper released by the Partnership for Open 

### & Fair Skies, each flight that is lost to Qatar, Etihad or Emirates will result in an average net loss of 821 good U.S. jobs.
In New York, John F. Kennedy Airport is a key factor in the region's economic growth. The airport employees 69,000 pilots, flight attendants, maintenance workers, baggage crews, ticketing agents and other airport 

# s 10-150508-008personnel and contributes $4.1 billion in wages annually. Our local communities can't afford to lose these highpayingjobs as a result of unfair business practices by foreign carriers.
It is the U.S. government's responsibility to ensure that airlines are complying with the Open Skies agreement, which is why we are asking you to open consultations on this issue so that the flow of subsidized capacity into the U.S. market can be addressed and American jobs protected.
Thank you for your consideration ofthis important matter.



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Karen Scharff Executive Director Cc: Senator Chuck Schumer Senator Kirsten Gillibrand U.S. Rep Steve Israel U.S. Rep Joe Crowley U.S. Rep Gregory Meeks U.S. Rep Grace Meng U.S. Rep Sean Patrick Maloney U.S. Rep Jerrold Nadler U.S. Rep Nita Lowey U.S. Rep Jose Serrano U.S. Rep Eliot Engel Governor Andrew Cuomo Mayor Bill de Blasia



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