The Honorable Rex Tillerson The Honorable Elaine Chao Secretary Secretary U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of Transportation 2201 C Street, NW 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20520 Washington, DC 20590

The Honorable Wilbur Ross Secretary U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20230

Dear Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Chao and Secretary Ross:

The United States commercial aviation industry is a significant driver of our national economy. The major global U.S. airlines support more than 1.2 million jobs for American workers. In our home state of Texas, American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines collectively employ almost 50,000 workers. These are good jobs: stable, middle-class, well-paying and grounded in the communities they serve.

However, current and future employment in the U.S. aviation sector is now under threat as a result of the anticompetitive practices of three subsidized Gulf airlines – Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates.

Since 2004, the Governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar have provided more than $50 billion in subsidies to their three flag carriers. The subsidies have enabled their airlines to rapidly increase capacity at the expense of U.S. carriers and their employees by pushing us off key routes. The subsidies are distorting the market and denying U.S. airlines a fair and equal opportunity to compete. Every time a U.S. airline loses or foregoes a long-haul route as a result of subsidized Gulf carrier competition, 1,500 American jobs are lost.

In addition, the Gulf carriers have started targeting trans-Atlantic routes that do not originate in either Qatar or the UAE, such as Emirates’ routes between New York/Milan and Newark/Athens. Without direct subsidies from their governments, these routes to the U.S. are not economically viable, and they undermine free and open competition among airlines. European routes to and from the United States are some of the most important routes for U.S. carriers and are critical to U.S. airline profitability and employment.

Unlike their subsidized Gulf carrier competitors, U.S. airlines serve smaller markets in our state, such as Amarillo, Beaumont, Killeen, Laredo, Lubbock, McAllen and Midland. Air service and economic development in small communities will be jeopardized if subsidized competition weakens U.S. airlines’ ability to maintain robust hubs in Texas.

President Trump has repeatedly stated that the United States will not tolerate unfair, subsidized foreign competition. We urge you take swift and resolute action against Gulf subsidies, enforce our trade agreements, and protect American jobs and the U.S. economy.

Sincerely,