July 14, 2006
Time Running Out to Stop
Foreign Control Change
The U.S. Department of
Transportation is sending unmistakable signals that the Department intends to
push ahead with its proposal to allow foreign entities to control the commercial
aspects of
U.S.
airlines.
Earlier this week, the DOT
resurrected the operational application of Virgin America, which was set up by
U.K.
citizen Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. The Department has established a
procedural schedule for the case, asking for answers to the application to be
filed by August 2, even though several interested parties, including ALPA, have
argued that the application does not contain adequate information about the
formation and control of Virgin America.
This latest DOT move seems to be yet another sign that the administration
is planning to issue its final rule on foreign control in August once Congress
has left town.
Time is running short to halt the DOT’s proposed, radical change to the
ownership rules of
U.S.
airlines. Contact your
United States
senators today and urge them to join their colleagues in the House of
Representatives who overwhelmingly voted to kill the DOT’s NPRM. An Action
Alert is posted on Crewroom.alpa.org.
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