CITY OF TYLER 

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport 

700 Skyway Blvd., Suite 201 

Tyler, TX 75704 

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

The Honorable John F. Kerry 

Secretary of State 

US Department of State 

2201 C Street NW 

Washington, DC 20520 

Dear Secretaries Foxx and Kerry: 

Ph: (903) 531-9825 

Fax: (903) 531-9843 

www.tylerairport.com TYLER POUNDS III!OIOHAL AIIIPOIIT 

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, as well as a number of airline 

unions, announced a partnership to encourage the U.S. government to level the playing 

field for fair competition with the government-subsidized, state-owned airlines of Qatar 

and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Fueled by massive subsic~ies, these carriers have 

expanded at a rapid pace in order to divert traffic through their own hubs. This 

subsidized expansion is distorting the international aviation marketplace. Importantly, 

this unfair competition is threatening the airline routes and jobs that we depend on in 

Tyler, Texas and across the country. 

The state-owned Gulf airlines - Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlinehave collectively received large government subsidies and other unfair benefits over the 

last ten years. The economic development strategies that their governments are 

pursuing through subsidization contradict Open Skies policy, which is predicated on fair 

competition, undistorted by government actions, including subsidies. Open Skies 

policies have allowed for greater access and growth of the aviation industry in the 

United States, to the benefit of U.S. travelers and the U.S. economy. However, these 

tactics by the Gulf airlines and their state sponsors have created an un-level playing 

field. The tens of billions of dollars in subsidies are distorting the free market framework 

established by Open Skies and they will ultimately have a negative economic impact 

here in the United States if we allow them to continue. The heavily subsidized 

competition by the Gulf carriers is contributing to excess capacity, which draws 

passengers and revenue from U.S. airlines. Citizens of Tyler, Texas will ultimately feel 

the impacts of these issues if they are not addressed now. 

DAVIS DICKSON 

Airport Manager • • I I I.) • I • - I II 

S 1 U-15U4l9-UOH 

DREW DANIELSON 

Operations Supervisor 

ddanielson@tylertexas.com 

CHERYL MCINNIS 

Administrative Assistant 

cmcinnis@tylertexas.com 

JULIA WOODARD 

Administrative Assistant 

jwoodard@tylertexas.com 
These unfair benefits mean American job losses. Every international roundtrip flight 

that is lost results in an average net loss of 821 good U.S. jobs. Employees of the U.S 

airlines whose livelihoods depend on a healthy U.S. airline industry are the people who 

have the most to lose if this issue is not addressed. U.S. Open Skies policy has served 

the citizens of East Texas as well. Please help to keep all Open Skies agreements open 

and fair by addressing the subsidies that are being provided to these three carriers. 

Respectfully, 

cc: 

Senator John Cornyn 

Senator Ted Cruz 

Representative Louie Gohmert 

s 10-150429-008 

Ed Broussard Davis Dickson 

City Manager, City of Tyler Airport Manager, City of Tyler