U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590Docket No. DOT-OST-2015-0082

The Honorable Penny S. Pritzker

Secretary of CommerceU.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20230

Docket No. DOC-2015-0001

The Honorable John F. Kerry

Secretary of StateU.S. Department of State2201 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20520

Docket No. DOS-2015-OO]6Dear Secretary Foxx, Secretary Pritzker and Secretary Kerry:

As Director of the Clark County Department of Aviation, which operates Las Vegas McCarran

International Airport, I write in support of maintaining the current Open Skies agreements with the United

Arab Emirates and Qatar. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport is opposed to the proposal by several

U.S. airlines to freeze the capacity of the Middle Eastern carriers, essentially abrogating the Open Skiesagreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar under the guise of proposing “consultations” under

the agreements.

Although Las Vegas does not presently have service from the Middle Eastern carriers, I have seen

firsthand how international travel and tourism have played a vital role in the economic recovery in

Southern Nevada. This is directly attributable to the Open Skies policies, which allowed foreign air

carriers to bring more than 3.3 million visitors directly to Las Vegas last year. Over the past six years, theprincipal growth in our air service at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport has been provided by

international air carriers — nearly 60 percent, compared to 2.75 percent growth by domestic carriers. Many

foreign flag carriers served Las Vegas because of the Open Skies policies that prevent domestic carriers

from controlling which communities get direct service from overseas. We currently have nonstop servicefrom 28 different international cities in North America, Central America, Asia and Europe. None of thisdirect international service is provided by the domestic carriers.

Clark County Board of Commissioners

S.solnk. Clmirrnan • Lrnj Brown, Vre Charman

Suson Brwjer • Torn Collins • Chris GIunrhigliosl • Mory Beth &ow • Lawrenre Weekly
competition, expanded international air service to and from the United States and expanded the

international aviation market to U.S. cities domestic carriers refuse to directly connect to foreign markets,

including Las Vegas. These agreements were originalLy negotiated with the full support of major U.S.international carriers, including both passenger and cargo operators.

International service has provided significant economic benefits to Las Vegas and the

continuation of Open Skies policies, without the uncompetitive interference from the domestic carriers, is

fundamental to our national goal of attracting 100 million visitors by 2021 — a goal that will add billions

of dollars to our economy and generate millions of new jobs. Open Skies fosters competition andcompetition works. Airfares are on average 32 percent lower on routes subject to Open Skies agreements

than on routes that are regulated.

New entrants into the American market, including airlines like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar

Airways, will increase international travel to the United States and grow the economies of the

communities they serve, as well as our national economy. Since the employment recovery began, thetravel industry has added $70,000 jobs, 33 percent faster than the rest of the economy. Travel is our

nation’s top industry export, accounting for 10 percent of all U.S. exports, with a record 75 millioninternational visitors coming to our country in 2014. Travelers generate $2.1 trillion in GDP each year,

supporting almost 15 million American jobs. Policies that foster the growth of travel to and within the

United States are good for our economy and our country. Robust, vibrant competition is good for

travelers and for the travel industry as a whole.

Suspending capacity expansion for these international carriers by suspending our Open Skies

policies undermines the Administration’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy. In 2013, the three Gulf

carriers brought 140,600 international visitors to the U.S. These visitors spent nearly $1 billion here,

which generated more than $2 billion in economic output and supported more than 15,000 American jobs.

If the U.S. government were to freeze the Gulf carriers’ frequencies, as some U.S. carriers have

requested, this would damage the success of the Open Skies agreements and send a wrong signal to ourtrading partners, jeopardizing the entire Open Skies framework.

for almost 25 years, Open Skies has been the foundation of American policy in international

aviation, a policy based on expanding travel rather than regulating or constricting it. Open Skies is a

policy based on the fundamental belief that more competition is good for consumers and brings additional

visitors to the United States. Open Skies has stimulated international travel and must be continued

without interference by the domestic carriers. I urge you to oppose request from the U.S. carriers and

reaffirm the current Open Skies agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Clark County Board of Commissioners

5t SioIk. Ch..krnn • Larry B,o. VI Chrnr,,mn

Smsn B.-sar • Ton. Collins • Chris Gisnohiglls,.l • Ms,y B.’h Soo • Lswreno Wrskly ,v,.

Sincerely,

Aviation