EK hub in PIT?

[Dont call me Shirley]

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2014/01/31/Allegheny-County-wooing-Emirates-airline/stories/201401310091
 
Rich Fitzgerald is planning a trip to Dubai.
The Allegheny County executive announced Thursday that in late February or early March he will lead a delegation to the United Arab Emirates to speak with an airline known as Emirates about the possibility of opening a hub of operations at the Pittsburgh International Airport, an outcome that aviation analysts deemed unlikely but that Mr. Fitzgerald said he would still like to explore.
 
Mr Fitzgerald is, IMHO, about to travel a rather long distance, at taxpayers expense, on  a fool's errand.  As noted in the article, Emirates, as a non-US carrier, cannot operate domestic US flights. It is also more than a bit unlikely that EK would fly into PIT as a spoke from its DXB hub.

 

[700UW]

That makes no sense, EK can't fly domestic flights.

 

[traderjake]

Makes perfect sense, corrupt government officials want a taxpayer funded winter vacation.

 

[Kev3188]

Bingo.

Probably a lot warmer there than it will be in PIT...

 

[nycbusdriver]

This is an interesting use of US taxpayer dollars in the UAE for the exclusive benefit of a foreign airline and their 200 passengers per day.
 
How in the world does this stuff happen?  
 
Now, if the government of the Emirate of AbuDhabi is paying for the entire facility, and reimbursing the US government for all salaries and expenses involved, then I have little objection.  The C&I Officers, along with the administrative staff, represent US jobs and if we can get a foreign government to fully reimburse those wages then why not?
 
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-flight-from-abu-dhabi-pre-clearance-facility-marks-sad-day-for-us-airline-industry-241892581.html

 

[whatkindoffreshhell]

Does Fitzgerald even have an appointment with EK over there?
 
If I lived in Allegheny County I would request an itemized spending list etc before this knucklehead goes over there.  
 
My bet is this trip is the work of a consultant to justify his contract.