# SAVANNAH AREA CHAMBER 

# ofCOMMERCE

May 11 , 2015 

### 101 East Bay Street 

# ISavannah , GA 31401 

# IP.O. Box1628 (3 1 402- 1628) SavannahChamber.com 9 12.644.6400

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx Secretary ofTransportation US Department of Transportation 1 200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State US Department of State 2201 C Street NW Wa shington, 20520 The Honorable Penny Priztker Secretary of Commerce US Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue NW Wa shington , DC 20230 Dear Secretaries Kerry, Foxx and Pritzker: On behalf of the Savannah Area Chamb e r of Commerce's 2,200+ member companies, I want to voice our concern about a potential threat to Savannah's annual $2.3 billion tourism industry . Each year, we welcome more than 13 million visitors to our city, stimulating a large hospitality industry that is a major sector of our economy that produces thou sands ofjobs locally . Many of Savannah's tourists rely on seamless air service through Delta Airlines' Atlanta (ATL) hub to get here. When traveling internationally, our residents and business community use the Savannah Hilton Head International airport . We believe, the essence of the hub and spoke system that is so critical to regional airports such as ours in Savannah is being undermined by state-owned Gulf carriers who over the past 10 years have received at lea st $42 billion in government subsidies and other unfair benefits in violation of Open Skies policy. In response , U.S . carriers like Delta , will be forced to curtail or cut back on service and that could lead to fewer visitors and ultimately fewer jobs here in Savannah and other tourist destinations across the country .
Visit Savannah • Ambassadors Council· CEO Counci l • Forward Savannah Task Force • Gove rnmental Affairs Council Greater Savannah Sports Cou n cil • Laun chSAYANNAH · Leadership Savannah· Manufacturers Council· Military Affairs Council . ouncil • Small Business Council· Tru s tees Council ·T ybee I sland Tourism Council · Workfo rce D evelo pme nt Counc1l 

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# .. s 10-150520-016Our members, our hospitality industry, and our local economy cannot afford to be undermined by unfair subsidies to Gulf carriers. The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce is asking that the U.S. government open consultations with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in order to address this serious issue . We also believe that the U . S. government should immediately freeze the introduction of new passenger service by the gulf carriers during these consultations . Thank you for your consideration on this issue. I would welcome the opportunity to provide you any additional information should you need it.

William President 

### & CEO
cc: Congressional Delegation



### 510- 150520-016PO. Box 1628/ Savannah, GA 31401 - 1628



### 510-150520-016 The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx Secretary of Transportat ion US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 U.S POSTAGE)) PITNEY BOWES**~-'** 

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