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i <br /> <br /> `R ~ CITY CO..NCIL ITEM a 6 <br /> CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU <br /> • HONOLULU, HAWAII No, 97-126, CDl <br /> RESOLUTION <br /> URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO <br /> RECOGNIZE HAWAII'S GEOGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS DURING AIR RIGHTS <br /> NEGOTIATIONS. <br /> WHEREAS, Hawaii is the moat geographically isolated state in <br /> the United States and ie therefore totally dependent upon air <br /> transportation routes and air traffic for both passengers and <br /> cargo for its economic viability; and <br /> WHEREAS, two major venues are now poised to greatly impact <br /> Hawaii in terms of air access and Hawaii's economy: U.S. <br /> bilateral air rights negotiations and "Open Skies Air Agreement"; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, moat in Hawaii are unaware of the severe negative <br /> impact both venues may have on Hawaii's competitive visitor <br /> industry position and its fragile economy if Hawaii's interests <br /> are not included in development of both venues; and <br /> WHEREAS, in recent U.S.-Japan air rights negotiations, 40 <br /> percent of a segment of Japan-Hawaii routes were eliminated as <br /> part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's position, which <br /> drastically reduced a growing part of a segment of Hawaii's <br /> tourism base and was part of an effort by the U.S. negotiating <br /> team to create pressure on Japan negotiators for increased U.S. <br /> carrier access to Japan, and will negatively impact Hawaii's <br /> economy; and <br /> WHEREAS, an Open Skies policy which does not lead to an <br /> increase in air traffic from as many points in the Pacific should <br /> be opposed by leaders of the State; and <br /> WHEREAS, other geographically isolated parts of the United <br /> States, such ae Guam and Alaska, have been spared the economic <br /> displacement and impact of the international air rights debates, <br /> having been identified by the U.S. Department of Transportation <br /> as "uniquely impacted geographically isolated areas" and provided <br /> unique air rights status, thereby establishing a U.S. Department <br /> of Transportation precedent for special consideration of air <br /> rights; and <br /> WHEREAS, Alaska and Guam subsequently have been given the <br /> authority for freedom in air rights practices to include cabotage <br /> and increased international route authorities, uniquely and <br /> separately negotiated from the rest of U.S. States and <br /> Territories and not constrained or impacted negatively as Hawaii <br /> has been in U.S. bilateral air rights disagreements; and <br /> CC800527.R97 <br /> <br />