CAPITAL OF THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY 

Mission Statement: 

"Ensure a business-friendly climate focused on economic growth, quality of life and 

efficient delivery of excellent services to our community." 

TEXAS 

Office of the Mayor 

April 21, 2015 

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Secretary of State 

US Departme State 

2201 C S et NW 

Was · gton, DC 20520 

Dear Secretaries Foxx andr 

Earlier this month, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, as well as the largest 

unions in the airline industry, 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 subsidies, these governments' 

carriers have been expanding 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 Harlingen, 

Texas and across the country. 

The state-owned Gulf airlines - Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline - have 

collectively received at least $42 billion dollars in 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, but these tactics by the Gulf airlines and their 

state sponsors have created an un-level playing field. If we allow this to continue, citizens of 

Harlingen, Texas will ultimately lose out. 

• RecijliestL q~ Keep TBXIIJ\ BeauU~1tf GnwJuuvt'~ A~u AuuvuL· 

s 10-150429-006 

11 8 E. Tyler * P.O. Box 2207 * Harlingen, Texas 7855 1 * (956) 427-8700 
Because these Gulf carriers are highly subsidized they have grown at astounding rates, rapidly 

expanding their fleets and routes untethered to commercial realities (such as profits). If we 

stand by and allow this unfair competition to continue, the service to small and mid-sized 

communities that we depend on will suffer as our domestic airlines are forced to curtail flights. 

If our U.S. airlines are pushed off of international routes and lose market share to the 

government-owned Gulf airlines, it will mean American job losses. Every international 

roundtrip flight that is lost to results in an average net loss of 821 good U.S. jobs -think of all 

the pilots, flight attendants, maintenance workers, baggage crew, ticketing agents, and others 

that are involved in a single overseas route. They and others whose livelihoods depend on a 

healthy U.S. airline industry are the people who have the most to Jose if this issue is not 

addressed. 

U.S. Open Skies policy has served the citizens of Harlingen, Texas well. Please help to keep all 

Open Skies agreements open and fair by addressing the subsidies that are being provided to 

these three carriers. 

t1-DA 

Chris H. Boswell 

Mayor- City of Harlingen 

cc: Senator John Cornyn 

Senator Ted Cruz 

Representative Filemon Vela 

s 10-150429-006