Washington, D.C. (June 4, 2015) – Over 30 mayors of major U.S. cities are calling on the U.S. government to open consultations with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to address the $42 billion in subsidies and other unfair benefits funneled by their governments to their state-owned airlines. Mayors from across the country have sent letters to U.S. Secretaries of the Transportation, Commerce, and State Departments, voicing their concern over the economic impact the Gulf carriers will have on the vitality of their cities.

In their letters, the mayors urged the U.S. government to open consultations with Qatar and the UAE to address the billions in subsidies their airlines receive, which is a violation of Open Skies policy and threatens hundreds of thousands of American jobs.

“As you know 11 million Americans rely on a healthy, competitive airline industry for their livelihood – many of them in North Carolina – the birthplace of aviation,” wrote Mayor Scott Padgett of Concord, North Carolina. “That is why I am alarmed to hear recently that the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were providing unfair subsidies to their state-owned airlines, jeopardizing the American airline industry and jobs here at home.”

“I support Open Skies agreements, and am requesting that you open consultations between our government and the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to address the $42 billion in subsidies received by their state-owned carriers,” wrote Mayor Greg Brotherton of Taylorville, Illinois. “State and national leaders must work to ensure fair competition among U.S. and Gulf carriers in order to protect the economies and jobs in Illinois communities.”

Today, 11 million American jobs and $1.5 trillion in nationwide economic activity are supported by the U.S. airline industry. Economists estimate that every daily international roundtrip flight that is foregone or lost by a U.S. airline due to unfair competition with the three heavily subsidized Gulf carriers, results in an average net loss of more than 800 U.S. jobs.

“Without action by the U.S. government, Qatar and the UAE will continue to funnel billions of dollars’ worth of subsidies and other unfair forms of financial support into three state-owned carriers, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline,” wrote Mayor Joseph Riley of Charleston, South Carolina.

“I am also deeply committed to the importance of free markets and competition – so long as it is fair and on a level playing field. Therefore I am advocating for the Open Skies agreements to work as intended, and consultations opened between the US and Gulf States,” wrote Mayor Don Ness of Duluth, Minnesota.

“We need U.S. carriers like American Airlines, which operates many flights out of Laredo, to remain strong and competitive, or else we will face a threat of declining air service and international trade. Our city’s economy can’t afford such losses, and neither can the Laredo region residents who are employed by the airport, the airlines it serves and related businesses,” said Mayor Pete Saenz of Laredo, Texas.

The 30 mayor letters build upon the growing chorus of voices urging the U.S. government to act, including the 262 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and dozens of business, trade and economic groups around the country who have weighed in. Their commentary further highlights that our Open Skies agreements must be honored and enforced and that the massive subsidies provided by the nations of Qatar and the UAE violate the spirit of these agreements, posing real and immediate harm to our communities across the nation. The Partnership for Open & Fair Skies urges the U.S. government to open bilateral consultations with Qatar and the UAE and enforce U.S. trade policy.

The full list of mayors who wrote to the U.S. Government requesting consultations is below:

Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald (TX)
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed (GA)
Brainerd Mayor James Wallin (MN)
Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez (TX)
Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley (SC)
Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter (NC)
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (IL)
Columbia Mayor Robert McDavid (MO)
Concord Mayor Scott Padgett (NC)
Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez (TX)
Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko (MI)
Decatur Mayor Gary Anderson (IL)
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (MI)
Duluth Mayor Don Ness (MN)
Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage (NJ)
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price (TX)
Godfrey Mayor Michael McCormick (IL)
Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper (FL)
Houston Mayor Annise Parker (TX)
Humble Mayor Merle Aaron (TX)
Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne (TX)
Killeen Mayor Scott Cosper (TX)
Laguna Vista Mayor Susie Houston (TX)
Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz (TX)
Midland Mayor Jerry Morales (TX)
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (NJ)
Port Isabel Mayor Joe Vega (TX)
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker (UT)
South Padre Island Mayor Barry Patel (TX)
Taylorville Mayor Greg Brotherton (IL)
Tyler Mayor Martin Heines (TX)
West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio (FL)
Wichita Falls Mayor Glenn Barham (TX)