From: ashburn VA

To: Gretch, Paul (OST)

Cc: ashburnxxx@gmail.com
Subject: Allow Norwegian Air International to Fly to the US

Date: Friday, February 07, 2014 5:34:14 PM

To Whom it May Concern,

I believe that Norwegian Air Shuttle (a.k.a. Norwegian Air International) SHOULD be allowed and RECEIVE approval from the US DOT & FAA to operate it's trans-atlantic flights using its Irish Subsidiary.

It is well known that ALPA, AFA and United, Delta, American and US Airways are all against Norwegian receiving approval. Both Unions and the above mentioned airlines are only impeding this because they are worried about the competition Norwegian may bring to the trans-atlantic market.

They all have stated in the media that Norwegian is dodging labor laws and outsourcing jobs that could be given to Norway citizens at a cheaper price this causing an economical advantage that US carriers don't have. Well, before I give you my opinion on the above mentioned statement, ALL US Airlines outsource positions for cheaper labor thus creating an economic advantage within the US airline industry. Examples are provided:

-United, Delta & American lay off its own airport employees and replaces them with an outsourced ground handling company at many US airport locations. This is an economical advantage when employees earning $18 an hour are laid off and replaced with "newbies" making $8.50 an hour receiving no benefits.

-Spirit Airlines, Delta & US Airways had laid off many reservation agents and outsourced the jobs to India and Manila. Yes the majority of those jobs have been brought back, but this created an economical advantage when major airlines in the US were outsourcing these jobs at a rate of barely $5 an hour compared to the $12 an hour a US agent would have received.

-ALL US Airlines outsource a lot of aircraft maintenance to companies who will do the service for less then they would have to pay to hire there own employees. At the same time, these outsourced maintenance companies are usually staffed by young inexperienced right out of school mechanics (economical avantage). In a statement by ALPA, it was said Norwegian will lower safety standards if allowed to continue to fly to the US. I believe outsourced maintenance to the inexperienced is what lowers safety standards!

-American Airlines has crew bases in South America in which those crew members fly to the US, and receive a fraction of the pay that US based crews receive. Is it okay for American Airlines to hire cheaper labor in South America instead of hiring more
US based crews?

-ALL of the major US Airlines outsource flying to Regional carriers. Yes, the regional carriers are US based, but when they lay off there own flight attendants because they are replacing mainline aircraft's with regional, that is an economical advantage. Since I mentioned regional carriers, let me state that ALPA has come to the defense of Norwegian citizens but has failed to come to the defense of its own AmericanCitizens. Regional airline crews in the US are paid a salary that puts them in the income level to qualify for Federal Benefits such as Food Stamps, Medicare etc. ALPA should be more concerned about the quality of life for it's US Citizens working for a regional carrier HERE, before spending all this time and money fighting for the Norwegian citizens who are actually not concerned with Norwegian Air Shuttle.

- US Mainline carriers have created a bidding system in which regional carriers bid for flying when it becomes available (economical advantage). Obviously the cheaper labor usually wins the contract. With cheaper labor comes cheaper maintenance, cheaper service and extremely low quality of life for employees; And once again, how will Norwegian lower US safety standards? I think US airlines have already lowered the safety standards all on there own without Norwegians help.

I can sit here for days and give you example after example as to how the US Airline industry dodges it's own rules, pay & regulations here within our own country. Norwegian is not doing anything that neither Delta, American, United and US Airways have done and/or are doing.

It it my strong belief that the fight against Norwegian is strictly and only becausethey do not want the competition. Competition is needed especially in the transatlantic market where these major carriers dominate and control the skies. Aside from that, Norwegian targets a different kind of customer, the customer that is looking for an economical flight and is willing to forgo certain services and pay for only what they want. The same concept that Spirit Airlines uses here in the US. By Norwegian opening the skies to those who can't afford to fly because the cost is so expensive, this will create more foreign tourism here in the US thus helping our US

economy.

Norwegian is not only bringing low fares between the United States and Europe, they are also CREATING jobs here in the US this helping our unemployment situation and our economy. Norwegian offers competitive wages for its US based cabin crew. The pay is actually higher then what US major airlines are paying there own new hire employees right now. Norwegian is bringing back the "glamour" to flying not only to the customers but to it's crew.

In conclusion, I believe Norwegian SHOULD be granted permission to operate flights to the US and the opposition from ALPA, AFA, Delta, United, American and US Airways should simply be disregarded as they are all guilty of similar acts they accuse NORWEGIAN AIR SHUTTLE of doing. Penalizing Norwegian and not American, United, Delta or US Airways would be a HYPOCRITICAL move on the part of the DOT, and the US Government.

Yours Truly,
A concerned Citizen for a Fair America