Three Transportation Secretaries Advocate Approval Of Norwegian Air International Application
Chorus of Leadership Voices to 'Open the Skies' Cross Party Lines, Multiple Administrations
WASHINGTON, June 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In an op-ed published today in Aviation Weekly, Andrew Card, former Secretary of Transportation (under President George H.W. Bush) and White House Chief of Staff (under President George W. Bush), called for the immediate approval of Norwegian Air International's application before the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
"The case for DOT to approve Norwegian is clear-cut," Card writes. "Norwegian satisfies all the legal and regulatory requirements under the Open Skies treaty, has an untarnished safety record, and a fleet of one of the most advanced aircraft in the sky – the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Passengers voted its parent company the 'Best Low Cost Airline in Europe' at the 2013 World Airline Awards. The members of the three airline mega-alliances – Star, oneworld, and SkyTeam – recognize the attractiveness of Norwegian's service, and are scrambling to block this compelling new competitor."
Secretary Card is the third former Secretary of Transportation to express support for Norwegian Air International's application, following an op-ed written by former Secretaries Norman Mineta and Mary Peters. Support for Norwegian Air International from respected transportation experts and other leaders continues to grow.
Norman Mineta, who served as Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Secretary of Commerce during the Clinton Administration, and Secretary of Transportation from 2001-2006 as the only Democrat in President George W. Bush's Cabinet, has publically advocated for approval of Norwegian Air International's application. Likewise, Mary Peters, who served as Secretary of Transportation from 2006-2009 after being the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration and Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, has also endorsed approval of Norwegian Air International's application.
In a recent joint op-ed published by The Hill newspaper Mineta and Peters wrote in part: "As secretaries who have dealt with difficult international aviation issues, we can say that unambiguous policy wins are rare. By promptly approving Norwegian Air International's application to serve the United States, the Department of Transportation has the opportunity to uphold the cornerstone of one of America's most successful policy reforms – and grow the economy and benefit consumers in the process."
This support is echoed in other recent endorsements by USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and the Orlando Sentinel.
"Support from three former Transportation Secretaries from both political parties and multiple Administrations is a testament to what we bring to the table: lower costs, more jobs, and a boost to the economy" stated Bjorn Kjos, the CEO of Norwegian Air Shuttle, the parent company of NAI. "Competition is a good thing. No matter how much the legacy carriers spend on their campaign to mislead; these three Secretaries of Transportation and a chorus of local and national officials understand the importance to letting us fly."
Representatives of NAI and third-party advocates are available for interviews on the significant support for airline's fight to offer service in the U.S. To arrange an interview, please call Dan Rene at 202-973-1325 or email [email protected].
Please visit http://www.openourskies.com/
SOURCE Norwegian Air International
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