April 14, 2015

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

US Department of State

2201 C Street NW

Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretaries Foxx and Kerry, as well as Members of the Minnesota Congressional 

Delegation: 

St. Paul is home to an impressive number of Fortune 500 companies and others that rely on 

international travel as a component of their business. We can agree that the Minneapolis–

Saint Paul International Airport is vital to our region. The domestic and international 

connections it provides have served the community well when it comes to recruiting and 

retaining our major corporate partners, as well as our cutting-edge innovators and the 

employees those businesses attract. With so much at stake the Midway Chamber is writing to 

you today with concerns over an issue that is putting Delta and other US airlines at a 

competitive disadvantage. It’s an issue that not only affects the health of domestic airlines 

but also the jobs associated with it.

Over the past decade, three Gulf airlines (Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates 

Airline) have received over 42 billion dollars in subsidies and interest-free loans from their 

respective governments, which has enabled them to expand rapidly and at an artificial pace. 

This has put US airlines, and locally Delta, at a competitive disadvantage. This is worrisome 

considering that every international round-trip flight that is lost by a U.S. carrier results in 

an average net loss of 821 U.S. jobs.

The Midway Chamber represents over 320 businesses and organizations. The Chamber is 

dedicated to Building A Stronger Midway and St. Paul by being a catalyst for economic

development; connecting employers with resources to recruit and retain a productive 

workforce, and providing services that help members grow their business. These goals are 

largely impacted by the health of MSP and which is why we need your support in leveling the 

playing field for US airlines.

Please keep the Open Skies agreements open and fair by addressing the subsidies that are 

being provided to these three carriers. Minnesota businesses and residents depend on a 

robust U.S. airline industry and the unfair practices of the Qatar and UAE governments have 

jeopardized that reality.

Thank you,

 

Dan Leggett Kari Canfield

Board Chair President/Executive Director

Midway Chamber of Commerce Midway Chamber of Commerce

Building A 

Stronger Midway

President’s Circle

Grand Casino Mille 

Lacs/Hinkley

Hiway Federal Credit Union

Sunrise Banks

Warners’ Stellian

Wellington Management, 

Inc.

Western Bank

Xcel Energy

Director’s Circle

American Engineering 

Testing, Inc.

Anchor Bank

Colliers International 

Hamline University

Loucks Associates

McDonald’s

Pioneer Press

Seven Corners Printing

Saint Paul Port Authority

Thrivent Financial

Associate’s Circle

Ally People Solutions: 

University Avenue Clean 

Team

Associated Bank

Bywater Business Solutions

Episcopal Homes

FastSigns- Roseville

Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc.

Mahoney Ulbrich 

Christiansen & Russ, P.A.

Mintahoe Catering & 

Events

Mortenson Construction

St. Paul Saints Baseball Club

UPS

Spruce Tree Centre x Suite #301 x 1600 University Avenue West x St. Paul, MN 55104

PHONE: (651) 646-2636 FAX: (651) 646-2297 WEBSITE: www.midwaychamber.com