## 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 ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: Docket No. DOT-OST-2015-0082 Dear Secretary Foxx, Iam afrequent travelerto Southeast Asia, particularly to Burma and Laos. I have also traveled to India and Australia as part of myjob. I run aSan Francisco-based travel and tourism company that specializes in providing

- accommodat1ons and entertainmenftoarea
- visitors.lwouiCresfimate that eighty percent

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- -- - -- -·- --- international visitors. Obviously, Iwant to see international travel between Asia and America be easy, pleasant, and affordable. Iworry that ifthe 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 betterwhen compared to American companies, which is why I prefer to fly foreign carriers when Ican. 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 aterrible burden to the economy. My travel company does notjust 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 oftravel agents have already closed shop. If international travel to San Francisco was to decrease, Iworry that Iwould 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 apolicy of breaking monopolies, not helping to build them. However, if Delta, United, and American gettheir way, amonopoly will be exactly what is created. Prices will rise, American consumers will have to deal with substandardservice, and it will negatively impact the Bay Area economy. There is no real reason to renegotiate the Open Skies agreements. Only ahandful 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 10-150519-025Inthiran V. Velayuthan President A New World Tours & Travel 1015 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94109



# s10-150519-025 SAN FRANCISCO CA 941 1.3 1\iAY 20iS PM 7 T

The Honorable Anthony Foxx Secretary ofTransportation United States Department ofTransportation ATTN : Docket Center Docket No. DOT-OST-2015-0082 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 

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