### CAPITAL OF THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY Mission Statement: "Ensure a business-friendly climate focused on economic growth, quality oflife and efficient delivery ofexcellent services to ourcommunity." TEXAS 

### Office of theMayor April 21, 2015
The Honorable Anthony 

### R. Foxx Secretary ofTransportation US Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Ave SE Washington, DC 20590 Secretary of State US Departme State 2201 CS 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 su bsidization 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 Gu lf 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
.



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# s10-150429-006 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: SenatorJohn Cornyn SenatorTed Cruz Representative Filemon Vela



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