W
elcome aboard, and thanks
for choosing United Airlines.
We can fly you to more than
380
airports in more than 60 countries
around the world, and we’re proud to
offer our customers the world’s most
comprehensive global route network,
with service to North America, Latin
America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle
East and Australia.
Just as we fly around the world, we
compete with carriers from around the
world. As a U.S. carrier, we need sound
policy from our government to compete
successfully on a global scale. We need a
National Airline Policy in the U.S. that
recognizes the tremendous value airlines
bring to this country. The U.S. airline
industry generates more than a trillion
dollars in economic activity every year,
drives 5 cents of every dollar of the U.S.
GDP, and directly or indirectly employs
about 10million people. A strong country
needs a strong airline industry to help
create a strong economy.
An economically healthy airline
industry leads to more jobs and more
investments in employees, aircra , prod-
uct, facilities and technology. Moreover,
since airlines are major exporters (every
time we sell a ticket offshore, we are
exporting a service), a National Airline
Policywill increaseU.S. exports and enable
economic growth for the many other sec-
tors that depend on commercial aviation.
We’re doing our part: Through con-
solidation, capacity discipline and focus
on running a real business, not just an
airline, we are transforming our industry.
Our goal is to create a sustainable busi-
ness model for U.S. airlines. Unlike our
foreign competitors, whose governments
understand the power of commercial avia-
tion and affirmatively foster their airline
industries, we suffer under Washington’s
continued efforts to overtax, overregulate
and overburden our industry. If you are
flying domestically today, an average
of 20 percent of the cost of your ticket
consists of federal fees and taxes on our
business (not including income tax). Our
government taxes usmore than liquor and
cigare es, which are themselves taxed to
discourage their use.
To readmore aboutwhy theU.S. needs a
National Airline Policy, please visit Airlines
for America at NationalAirlinePolicy.com.
Thanks again for flying United. We
appreciate your business, and we hope to
see you onboard again soon.
Enhancing Global
Competitiveness
CEOLETTER
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT
AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
UNITED AIRLINES
10
MAY 2013
•
HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
