SAVANNAH AREA CHAMBER of COMMERCE 

May 11, 2015 

101 East Bay Street I Savannah, GA 31401 I P.O. Box 1628 (31402-1628) 

SavannahChamber.com 912.644.6400 

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

The Honorable John F. Kerry 

Secretary of State 

US Department of State 

2201 C Street NW 

Washington, 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 Chamber 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 thousands of jobs 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 

least $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 Council • Forward Savannah Task Force • Governmental Affairs Council 

Greater Savannah Sports Council • LaunchSAYANNAH · Leadership Savannah· Manufacturers Council· Military Affairs Council . 

. .. ouncil • Small Business Council· Trustees Council ·Tybee Island Tourism Council · Workforce Development Counc1l 

s 10-150520-016 
Our 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 

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

510-150520-016 

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

U.S POSTAGE)) PITNEY BOWES 

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