From the Desk of 

Sylvia Moffett 

West Palm Beach City Commissioner 

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 

li-S-Department of State 

2201 C Street NW 

Washington, DC 20520 

The Honorable Penny Pritzker 

US Department of Commerce 

1401 Constitution Ave., NW 

Washington, D.C. 20230 

Dear Secretaries Foxx, Kerry and Pritzker: 

It has recently come to my attention that U.S. based airlines are being put at an unfair disadvantage by 

state-owned carriers in the Persian Gulf region who are the beneficiaries of prohibited subsidies from 

their own governments. 

According to published reports, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline have received more 

than $40 billion in government subsidies, free handouts and other unfair benefits. As you are well 

aware, these subsidies are contrary to Open Skies Policy that have governed the international air travel 

marketplace for three decades. And, in fact, the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates 

should also be well aware of the policy considering they signed Open Skies agreements with the U.S. 10 

years ago that purposely prohibit such practices that hinder market-based competition. 

I am personally requesting that you reengage Qatar and UAE in discussions to end their market 

distorting subsidies at once. Benefits such as subsidized airport charges and free land on which to 

operate creates an uneven playing field. I am sure you agree U.S. airlines are prepared to compete with 

any other airline in the world, provided everyone is operating under the same rules and regulations. 

If the subsidies are allowed to continue, U.S. airlines could lose out on valuable international routes and 

passengers- and that would cause a ripple effect harming service to our domestic airports that help 

feed those same international routes. Our local Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) would very likely 

see routes discontinued as a result of unfair practices by the Gulf airlines half-a-world away. 

Furthermore, PBI and the airlines that serve it are an important employer in our community. And with 

estimates that for every international roundtrip flight that is forgone or lost by a domestic airline an 

513 35th Street 

s 10-150505-038 West Palm Beach, FL 33407 
average net loss of more than 800 American jobs is lost with them, our community could be severely 

impacted if this situation is not addressed by the Obama Administration. 

We simply cannot afford to allow Open Skies policy to continue to be trampled by Qatar and UAE's 

unwarranted subsidies. Please take immediate action to end the Gulf airlines' unfair advantages and 

allow U.S. airlines to compete on a level playing field. 

Sincerely, 

Sylvia Moffett 

District 1 Commissioner 

City of West Palm Beach 

s 1 0-150505-038 

513 35th Street 

West Palm Beach, FL 33407 
Commissioner Sylvia Moffett 

513 35th Street 

West Palm Beach, FL 33407 

s 1 0-150505-038 

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