ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 82

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 2, 1996

By Assemblyman BODINE

An Assembly Resolution urging the President of the United States to begin negotiations with Japan for a new aviation agreement that would expand competition by allowing more passenger flights between cities in the two countries.

Whereas, Under terms of the current aviation agreement between the United States and Japan, first negotiated in 1952, many major U.S. airports, such as Newark, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, and New York have limited airline service to Japan, and other important cities including Houston, Boston, Orlando, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Denver, and Las Vegas are excluded entirely from providing such service; and

Whereas, At present, airline fares between the United States and other, more competitive, international destinations are considerably lower, typically by more than 50 percent, than fares to Japan; and

Whereas, The Aviation Coalition for Competition and Expanded Service Between the United States and Japan, ACCESS U.S.-Japan, has been formed recently by a group of concerned American businesses, civic leaders, and others who seek a more open and competitive air service agreement between the United States and Japan; and

Whereas, A report issued by ACCESS U.S.-Japan indicates that the low level of air service between this nation and Japan imposes excessive fares, hampers growth throughout the U.S. economy, and restricts opportunity in virtually all product and service areas; and

Whereas, Adding just three non-stop flights a day between the United States and Japan could produce more than 500,000 new passengers and more than $500 million in airline revenues; and

Whereas, The ACCESS U.S.-Japan report also points out that opening the aviation market would stimulate greater competition among commercial airline carriers on routes between the United States and Japan, thereby increasing the level of service, reducing air fares and encouraging more people to travel from one country to the other; and

Whereas, ACCESS U.S.-Japan estimates that permitting more U.S. cities to enjoy new or expanded access to Japan would give businesses greater access to markets and generate more than $9 billion in additional revenues within the United States each year; and

Whereas, It is in the public interest that the United States expand air service on routes between the U.S. and Japan, while preserving rights currently being exercised by U.S. carriers; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. This House respectfully urges the President of the United States to begin negotiations with Japan for a new aviation agreement that would expand competition by allowing more passenger flights between cities in the two countries.

    2. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States.

STATEMENT

    This Assembly resolution urges the President of the United States to begin negotiations with Japan for a new aviation agreement that would expand competition by allowing more passenger flights between cities in the two countries.

Urges the President of the United States to begin negotiations with Japan on a new aviation agreement.