JetBlue letter to City of Long Beach re Customs Facility

jetBlue February 23,2015 Mr. Bryant Francis, Director Long Beach Municipal Airport 4400'Donald Douglas Drive Long Beach, CA 90808 Dear Mr. Francis: On behalf of the 16,500 Crewmembers of JetBlue. Airways and especially our more than 700 Crewmembers based at the Long Beach Municipal Airport ("LGB"), JetBlue requests the Airport and the City of Long Beach apply to the United States Departrnent of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, for a User Fee Airport designation and seek the approval to establish Customs facilities at the Long Beach Municipal Airport, pursuant to the provisions of Title 19, United States Code, Section 58b. Following the City Council Study Session held recently on the Airport Noise Ordin4nce, and with no nexus whatsoever between enhancing the Airport with a modest Customs facility and in any way disturbing the sanctity or legality of the Ordinance, JetBlue requests the City seek thp presence of US Customs for purposes of processing aircraft under the Customs User Fee Airport prograrrl. Given the need for a facility capabJe of processing no more than three aircraft in any one hour period, it is JetBlue's belief that LGB qualifies under the guidelines for a User Fee Airport. JetBlue will utilize only its current allotrnent of assigned Air Carrier slots and existing aircraft parking positions to fly ipternationally in addition to our current 1l domestic markets. Intemational flights at LGB operated by JetBlue, or by any carrier that holds allogated slots, and coirsistent with the Airport's Noise Ordinance, will greatly enhance the stature of the City of Long BeaclU improve intemational economic opportunities through increased tourism, cornmerce and conventions and foster greater cultural ties throughout the region. Further, the general aviation community will be able to avail itself of international travel opportunities while also operating within the existing Noise Ordinance limitations and restrictions. Like international commercial flights, international general aviation flights will bring n€w-€conomic and corpomte opportunities to the city of:lgng Bea+ JetBlue has been a model corporate,citizen in Long Beach'aird a'steadfast supporter of the Noise Ordinance since cjut inhirgural flight nearljr 14 years ago. We look forward to woiking closely with the City to immediately proceed with the ap-p^lication proce€$ and begin the work required to secure an international flight designation for the CiQrtglong Be4ph. , : 1. 1\ Thank you for your consideration ofthis request. -:i:: Sincerely. n;blirt C. Land t Senior Vice President for Govemment Affairs and'Asoc-iate General Counsei tlil r ;i t 27-01 Queens Plaza Northl Long lsland City, NY 11101 1718.286.79A0

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JetBlue letter to City of Long Beach (Feb. 23, 2015) asking Airport and City to request addition of Customs facility enabling international flights.

Transcript of JetBlue letter to City of Long Beach re Customs Facility

jetBlueFebruary 23,2015

Mr. Bryant Francis, DirectorLong Beach Municipal Airport4400'Donald Douglas DriveLong Beach, CA 90808

Dear Mr. Francis:

On behalf of the 16,500 Crewmembers of JetBlue. Airways and especially our more than 700Crewmembers based at the Long Beach Municipal Airport ("LGB"), JetBlue requests the Airport and theCity of Long Beach apply to the United States Departrnent of Homeland Security, Customs and BorderProtection, for a User Fee Airport designation and seek the approval to establish Customs facilities at theLong Beach Municipal Airport, pursuant to the provisions of Title 19, United States Code, Section 58b.

Following the City Council Study Session held recently on the Airport Noise Ordin4nce, and with nonexus whatsoever between enhancing the Airport with a modest Customs facility and in any waydisturbing the sanctity or legality of the Ordinance, JetBlue requests the City seek thp presence of USCustoms for purposes of processing aircraft under the Customs User Fee Airport prograrrl. Given the needfor a facility capabJe of processing no more than three aircraft in any one hour period, it is JetBlue's beliefthat LGB qualifies under the guidelines for a User Fee Airport. JetBlue will utilize only its currentallotrnent of assigned Air Carrier slots and existing aircraft parking positions to fly ipternationally inaddition to our current 1l domestic markets.

Intemational flights at LGB operated by JetBlue, or by any carrier that holds allogated slots, andcoirsistent with the Airport's Noise Ordinance, will greatly enhance the stature of the City of Long BeaclUimprove intemational economic opportunities through increased tourism, cornmerce and conventions andfoster greater cultural ties throughout the region. Further, the general aviation community will be able toavail itself of international travel opportunities while also operating within the existing Noise Ordinancelimitations and restrictions. Like international commercial flights, international general aviation flightswill bring nw-conomic and corpomte opportunities to the city of:lgng Bea+

JetBlue has been a model corporate,citizen in Long Beach'aird a'steadfast supporter of the NoiseOrdinance since cjut inhirgural flight nearljr 14 years ago. We look forward to woiking closely with theCity to immediately proceed with the ap-p^lication proce$ and begin the work required to secure aninternational flight designation for the CiQrtglong Be4ph.

,

: 1. 1\

Thank you for your consideration ofthis request.-:i::

Sincerely.

n;blirt C. Land tSenior Vice President for Govemment Affairs and'Asoc-iate General Counseitlil r

;i t

27-01 Queens Plaza Northl Long lsland City, NY 11101 1718.286.79A0