NORTH TEXAS 

amooa 

CHAMBER Of COMMERCE"' 

May 7, 2015 

Han. Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Open Skies Partnership 

3824 Cedar Springs Rood, Box 429 1 Da llas. TX 7 5219 1 214-821-4528 

Han. John F. Kerry 

Secretary of State 

US Department of State 

2201 C Street NW 

Washington, DC 20520 

Han. Penny Pritzker 

US Department of Commerce 

1401 Constitution Ave., NW 

Washington, D.C. 20230 

Dear Secretary Foxx, Secretary Kerry and Secretary Pritzker: 

I write to express my deep concern over the reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar are 

unfairly providing financial support to Eithad, Qatar and Emirates Airlines. 

It is being asserted that the Middle East airlines have benefited from over $42 billion in governmental 

subsidies and unfair benefits over the last ten years. We are told that they used these subsidies to 

purchase new planes, offer below market value airfares, and add countless new routes. If this is true, 

this practice has created (and continues to further) an unfair and unleveled playing field for carriers not 

receiving the same cost subsidies, namely Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines. It is this 

Chamber's belief that these accusations should be investigated to determine their veracity. If it is found 

that these allegations are true, then the U.S. government needs to take the steps necessary to ensure a 

level playing field for its airlines. 

In addition to the alleged subsidies creating an unfair marketplace, the UAE and Qatar- along with their 

airlines- have an atrocious record on human rights. They have discriminatory practices against both 

women and the GLBT community. An openly gay person will not be hired. Emirates Airline even 

requires their female employees to get permission before making the very personal decision to start a 

family. 

If these allegations against the UAE and Qatar airlines are true, the United States cannot sit idly by and 

allow Qatar and the UAE to violate their agreements with the U.S. Today, I am respectfully requesting 

that you stand up for what is right for the people of Texas and the United States of America by opening 

up investigations on the alleged subsidies. We cannot turn a blind eye while sought after jobs from the 

United States are being moved overseas due to the unfair practices of other countries. 

~~___)_ Tony Vedda, 10M, CCE 

CEO & President 

tony.vedda@glbtchamber.org 

214-865-6516 

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510-150511-019 

NORTH TEXAS 

amooo TONY VEDDA, I OM, CCE 

CHAMBER O F COMMERCE '" Pres1denr & CEO 

Tony. Veddo@GLBTChomber.org 

4 I 23 Cedar Sa••ngs Rooo Su11e 1206 

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secretarY of \ransportat"lon 

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1200 NeW 1erse'{ Ave SE 

washington, oc 20590