THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D

. C

. 20590



### The Honorab le Jim Matheson U.S. House of Representativ es Washington , DC 205 1 5 Dear Congressman Ma th eson: .June 9 , 2014



### Thank yo u f o r yo ur le tt e r regarding the app li ca ti o n ofNorweg i a n A ir intern a tional Limi ted (NA I ) 

### fo r authority to cond uct U.S. services. Giv en that a number of interes t ed parti es have fil e d resp on s ive pleadings to NA T' s application and thi s matt er is curre ntl y pending b e f o re th e Departmen t , I 

### am su re you und ers tan d that I cannot comment on th e me rit s o fNAI 's app lication. I assure you, howe ver . th a t we wi ll give full and carefu l co n s iderati on to a ll of th e pleadings filed on th e record befo re we reach a determinati o n in thi s matte r. As is our s t andard practice , I 

### am p lacing a copy of yo ur le tter a nd my re sponse in Doc ket DOT -OST -2013 -0204 , as a co nt ac t outs ide th e record of thi s case. You may tr ack th e progre ss of thi s case and v iew th e pub l icly availab le docume nts fil ed in th e docket by access ing the Fed eral Docket Management Sys tem a t www.regu latio n s.gov a nd search in g for Docket DO T-OST-20 13-0204. I h ope thi s inf o nnati on i s he lpful. 

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The Honorable Anthony Foxx Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington , DC 20590 Dear Secretary Foxx: April 16,2014 ENERG Y AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITIEES : H EALTH T ELECO MM U N !CA TlONS C O MM ERC E , M A N UFA CTUR I NG AND T RA DE

I am writing regarding a pending application by Norwegian Air International Limited (NAI) to operate as a foreign air carrier in the United States. I have several concerns about the proposal. NAI is attempting to establish itself as an Irish airline although it does not intend to operate in Ireland. This is concerning in light of the fact that as an Irish airline, Ireland would be responsible for regulatory oversight ofNAI, which could be difficult without a local presence. I am concerned that adequate and effective oversight could suffer under the circumstances. Passenger safety and aircraft integrity must be priorities. U
. S. law requires the Department of Transportation to encourage "fair wages and working conditions" and " strengthen
... the competitive position of [U.S.] air carriers to at least ensure equality with foreign air carriers." By operating from Ireland , NAI would be permitted to outsource crew beyond the EU. IfNAI's proposed business model is intended to avoid labor and wage standards common to other European nations and the United States, this would run contrary to established U.S. policy. Furthermore, the U.S.-EU Open Skies Agreement states that labor standards are not to be reduced. Outsourcing crew from Southeast Asia appears to be at odds with these stipulations. · 1 · •• · · NAI's proposed business model has the potential to put U.S. airlines at a competitive disadvantage if it undermines fair wages and working conditions. Additionally, it must be determined whether this arrangement conflicts with U
. S. law and international agreements. I urge your careful consideration of these issues as you review NAI's application for a foreign air carrier permit. · ' ·

# ~;_:**rely ~~------** **{§rn th** **~'/. 4**  

# .**~** Member of Congress

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_ HIN GTON OFFI CE : 2211 R AYBURN H ousE O FFICE B ullDI " G

W ASHINGTON, DC 20515-4402

PHo,.E: ( 2021 225 - 3011 FAx; (202) 225 - 5638 

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