A New World Tours And Travel 

1015 Larkin Street • San Francisco, CA 94109 

May 14,2015 

The Honorable Anthony Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Docket No. DOT-OST-2015-0082 

Dear Secretary Foxx, 

I am a frequent traveler to Southeast Asia, particularly to Burma and Laos. I have also traveled to India and Australia 

as part of my job. I run a San Francisco-based travel and tourism company that specializes in providing 

-accommodat1ons and entertainmenftoarea-visitors.lwouiCresfimate that eighty percent ofOur business is - -- - -- -·- --- international visitors. Obviously, I want to see international travel between Asia and America be easy, pleasant, and 

affordable. I worry that if the Open Skies agreements are renegotiated to favor American airline companies, 

international travel will be substandard, and the Bay Area's economy would suffer. 

The current Open Skies arrangements have caused flight prices to decrease. Foreign carriers provide lower prices as 

well as better customer service. These companies have better meals, flatbed seats, and courteous staff. Overall, the 

flight experience is much better when compared to American companies, which is why I prefer to fly foreign carriers 

when I can. I'm certainly not the only one making this type of choice, which is why the American companies feel 

threatened and are turning to the government for help. They want to restrict expansion by some foreign carriers, and 

they want to stop all expansion while the agreements are renegotiated. 

Limiting direct international flights will be a terrible burden to the economy. My travel company does not just provide 

local tours; it also helps support other industries related to tourism. Furthermore, my business offers employment and 

revenue for the Bay Area. Unfortunately, sixty percent of travel agents have already closed shop. If international 

travel to San Francisco was to decrease, I worry that I would have to close shop along with many other small 

businesses dependent on tourism. 

The only move that makes sense is for the American companies to provide better air service. The US government 

has a policy of breaking monopolies, not helping to build them. However, if Delta, United, and American get their 

way, a monopoly will be exactly what is created. Prices will rise, American consumers will have to deal with 

substandard service, and it will negatively impact the Bay Area economy. There is no real reason to renegotiate the 

Open Skies agreements. Only a handful of companies will benefit; whereas, leaving the agreements unaltered will 

allow for growth and help many small businesses and travelers. 

Sincerely, 

lnthiran V. Velayuthan 

President 

s 10-150519-025 
Inthiran V. Velayuthan 

President 

A New World Tours & Travel 

1015 Larkin Street 

San Francisco, CA 94109 

s 10-150519-025 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 941 

1.3 1\iAY 20iS PM 7 T 

The Honorable Anthony Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

United States Department of Transportation 

ATTN: Docket Center 

Docket No. DOT-OST-2015-0082 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

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