O'F , • rlr:i!,.~.0<;pnpTAT!OI~ iJ"'-Vf vnl f' j 

Assistant Sl:fcretary nnr'vr"r ' 200 New Jersey Avenue. SE .U.S. Department " •.. , /,,,,1 ,j Washington. DC 20590 

ofTransportation March 25, 2010 Office of the Secretary 


of Transportation 


Mr. Bruce E. Carter, A.A.R 


DirectQr of Aviation 


Metropolitan Airport Authority 


Quad City International Airport 


P.O. Box 9009 


Moline,IL 61265-9009 


DearMrrThank you for your letter of February 24 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed 

by AmericanAirlines-and Japan Airlines.' I am responding on behalf of Secretary LaHood. 

As you may know, the applicants---members ofthe oneworld Alliance-are seeking antitrust 


immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According to the 


. application, the alliance partners plan to,..1aunch a joint venture for conveyance of transpacific 


traffic. 

The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the 

opportunity to comment. The U.S~ Department of Transportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to 

. determine if it is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation 

with the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of 

competitive factors. As this matter is now pending, I hope you understand that I cannot 

comment on the merits ofthe application. I can assure you, however, that DOT will give full . . . 

. and fair consideration to the application as well as any comments filed in the docket. . 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your l~tter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2010-~as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding.' . 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland. 


Assistant Secretary 


for Aviation and International Affairs 

S 1 0-1 00302-046 

METROPOLITAN AIRPORT AUTHORITY • OF ROCI{ ISLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS 

QUADelTV INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 

P.O. BOX 9009 

MOLINE, IL 61265·9009 

309·764·9621 TEL 

309·757-1515 FAX 

February 24, 2010 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secr~tary, U.s. Departme}1t ofTI:'ansportation 

t'200New Jersey Ave, SE . 

Washington, DC 20590 

Docket DOT-OST-20 1 0--. 

DearMr. seer,?'.R"dThank you for the opportunity to express my support for the application fol' antitrust immunity 

and proposed joint business agreement filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The 

proposed alliance between these two airlines is vital for the oneworld alliance to compete 

effectively with the Star and SkyTeam alliances. This increased alliance competition will in turn 

e.iih.aD.c~ the'benefits ofthe Department's Open Skies policy - first by solidifying U.S, - Japan 

Open Skies;'then by serving as a foundation for further liberalization across Asia. 

After a thorough review, I encourage the Department of Transportation to approve this 

application as it would enable these oneworld alliance airlines to work closely together to deliver 

highly competitive air transportation services. Approval for AAIJAL alliance will have a . 

positive impact on air travel by offering customers more service, scheduling and pricing options 

and wIll help to ensure that customers continue to benefit from the competition afforded by three 

competitive air alliances. . 

I urge you to quickly approve this application. 

Sincerely, 

Jf31~ CJ6­

Bruce E. Carter; A.A.E. 

Director ofAviation 

... ,. " ' .... ANDREW J. GIANULIS, COMMISSIONER:. JAMES E. DAVIES. CHAIRMAN 

ROBERT D. LEIBOVITZ, COMMISSIONER . CARt A. ROBINSON, 'liCE CHAIRMAN 

DONALD R. MARGENTHALER, COMMISSIONER BRUCE B. CARTER, A.A.E. JAMES C. JANNES. SECRET.~Y DIRECTOR OF AVIATION

MOLLY RICHARD H. WORK, COMMISSIONER T. FOLE.Y, TReASURER