Capital-to-Capital Coalition
The Capital-to-Capital Coalition is a group of Washington, DC- area businesses and leaders who are dedicated to the establishment of a non-stop passenger air route between Washington, D.C. and Beijing, China. The group believes that linking the capital cities of two of the world’s most important nations will span a critical geopolitical divide, and positively impact governmental, business, academic and cultural relations.
Coalition members are united behind a belief that efficient passenger air service between these two leading world capitals is essential to facilitate increased commerce and trade, to further diplomatic initiatives, and to promote the economic and cultural development of the Washington, D.C. region.
The coalition's mission has been endorsed by Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich, VA Gov. Tim Kaine, DC Mayor Anthony A. Williams and United Airlines.
The Capital-to-Capital Coalition is chaired by Jane Garvey, former Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and James Bennett, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
On October 13th 2006, the Coalition marked the 100,000th customer endorsement for its proposed nonstop service.
In addition to the long list of passengers encouraging the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish nonstop service between the two capitals, a robust and diverse group of U.S.-China policy experts, business and community leaders, and employees have endorsed the proposed route.
"The number and caliber of diverse supporters is as compelling as the proposed route itself, and not surprising given that the Washington-to-Beijing route is by far the strongest of all those under consideration," said Jane Garvey, co-chair of the Capital-to-Capital Coalition, a slate of formidable organizations and leaders advocating for the new Washington-to-Beijing service. Garvey served as FAA administrator under Presidents William J. Clinton and George W. Bush. "We are encouraged that so many national leaders and frequent travelers recognize it is time these two important capitals are linked by direct air service."
The route is backed by a bipartisan group of important international political leaders at the federal, state and local levels. More than 100 members of Congress from both parties representing states from coast to coast endorse the capital-to-capital proposal, including leaders from the House International Relations Committee and the U.S.-China Working Group. More than 100 governors, mayors and other state and local government officials also back the route.
Eight former holders of the Office of the United States Trade Representative from the Nixon administration through the current administration encouraged DOT to select the service. Additionally, a number of university professors and representatives of many of the nation's leading international relations think tanks have signed letters of support. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a leading, bipartisan foreign policy think tank, issued a report recommending that the U.S. government establish nonstop air service between Washington, D.C., and Beijing "as soon as possible" in order to improve diplomatic exchanges between the two nations.
Additional support for the capital-to-capital connection includes: More than 7,000 United Airlines employees The United States Olympic Committee More than twenty-five airports and airport authorities across the country More than 80 chambers of commerce and economic development and tourism organizations 700 corporations, from a diverse group of industries DOT is expected to decide by the end of 2006 where it will award the new route. Washington, D.C., is by far the largest metropolitan region without nonstop service to China, the U.S.'s third-largest trading partner and the fastest-growing market for U.S. goods exports. Washington also has the largest Chinese population of all U.S. markets without nonstop service to China.
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Transportation in Washington, D.C.