ALPA working together with with Airlines for America, Airports Council International, Consumer Travel Alliance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Global Business Travel Association once again emphasized our strong opposition to the creation of a preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi International Airport. In a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the coalition asked for assurance that this proposal will not be pursued. The coalition pointed out the detrimental impact on our industry this preclearance facility will have, stating:

“At a time when U.S. carriers and airports are fighting to maintain our global competitiveness, the U.S. government should not be signing a deal that benefits a foreign emirate and its wholly owned national carrier, particularly since no U.S. carrier serves that emirate. This deal clearly puts U.S. airlines and their employees at a competitive disadvantage.”

The letter continues, “Abu Dhabi’s position is not surprising; having the U.S. government support that strategic aim at the expense of U.S. airlines, workers, airports, and U.S. travel and tourism strains comprehension.”

Congress recently spoke to this issue when it chose not to provide broad authority to DHS to enter into reimbursement agreements for preclearance facilities in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013. Business and labor are united in opposition to a preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi and ALPA urges the administration to once and for all drop this ill-conceived plan.

Read the letter.

See ALPA’s Call to Action to stop the creation of a new CBP preclearance site in Abu Dhabi.