94 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206; (518) 465-4600; www.citizenactionnv.org 

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

US Depqrtment of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

The Honorable John F. Kerry 

Secretary of State 

US Department of State 

2201 C Street 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, 

. ' . 

. _, .·. 

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

e~~~~tial W powering 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 Gulf carriers 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 10-150508-008 
personnel and contributes $4.1 billion in wages annually. Our local communities can't afford to lose these highpaying jobs 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 of this important matter. 

-;Jt4J 

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 

s 1 0-150508-008 
(It; l::CK\ ~ 

q4 Ce¥1~1 ~ 

~lrJan.'{ 1 N'l 'z:z.:o (() 

s 1 0-150508-008 

- . . ... 

: . 

lvu. ~~~e ~m(JV'V-1 fL. ~X 

Se~ ~f\( of (((Ar\SPDv.to.-\\OY\ 

US o.epo.~ of riTM\!P~n'wl 

1100 ~ 71-etJ-€/i ftv'e. ~e WO.i>V\lV\S to-n De... lD~qo 

t\tlllltljlljlljjlj Ill!' ltlttllll'l'l'lllllljlljlllllii'IJIII' 1,1