BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

_________________________________________ 

 ) 

Application of ) 

 ) 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2010- 

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) ) 

 ) 

For an Exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 ) 

(Monterrey, Mexico – Houston, Texas) ) 

_________________________________________ ) 

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V. 

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR AN EXEMPTION 

Communications concerning this document should be addressed to: 

 

David M. Kirstein 

Joanne W. Young 

 KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC 

1750 K Street N.W. 

Suite 200 

 Washington, D.C. 20006 

(202) 331-3348 (telephone) 

(202) 331-3933 (facsimile) 

 

 Counsel for 

 Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

April 1, 2010 

NOTICE: Answers supporting or opposing this application must be filed with the 

Department on or before April 15, 2010. vivaAerobus will poll all persons served 

in this application and will notify the Department of the results. 
 

BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

_________________________________________ 

 ) 

Application of ) 

 ) 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2010- 

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) ) 

 ) 

For an Exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 ) 

(Monterrey, Mexico – Houston, Texas) ) 

_________________________________________ ) 

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V. 

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR AN EXEMPTION 

 Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 (c), Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

(“vivaAerobus”), a Mexican air carrier, respectfully applies for an exemption from provisions of 

49 U.S.C. § 41301, authorizing it to engage in scheduled foreign air transport of persons, 

property and mail between Monterrey, Mexico and Houston, Texas. vivaAerobus plans to 

institute this service on June 1, 2010. vivaAerobus will poll other carriers and report the results 

to the Department. 

In support of this Application, vivaAerobus states as follows: 

1. vivaAerobus was established as the first low-cost Mexican air carrier in 

November 2006. It currently operates from its hub at General Mariano Escobedo International 

Airport, in Monterrey, Mexico, to various Mexican destinations, as well as to Las Vegas, 

Nevada. 

2. Starting June 1, 2010, vivaAerobus plans to operate daily nonstop roundtrip 

service between Monterrey, Mexico and Houston, Texas. The proposed nonstop services will 
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

Monterrey-Houston Exemption 

Page 2 of 3 

generate significant benefits for the traveling and shipping public. 

3. vivaAerobus has been found fit, willing and able to provide foreign air 

transportation and currently holds a foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled service 

between the Mexican points of Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, Leon, Queretaro, and Cancun 

and Austin, Texas. See Order 2008-1-23. It also holds exemption authority for Monterrey, 

Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada and Hermosillo, Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada. See, e.g., Notice of 

Action Taken, Docket OST-2008-0095, dated May 22, 2009 and Notice of Action Taken, Docket 

OST-2009-0298 dated November 24, 2009. There have been no material changes within the 

company that would affect the Department’s prior fitness findings. 

4. The Mexican DGCA has authorized vivaAerobus to provide this service. See 

attached authorization. 

5. vivaAerobus plans to use Boeing 737-300 aircraft on its proposed route. Mexico 

is a contracting state to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (“ICAO”) and observes 

all applicable ICAO standards. This exemption application raises no environmental or energy 

issues, because approval of this request will not result in an increase in fuel consumption of ten 

million gallons or more in the near future. 

6. vivaAerobus’s requested authority is covered by the U.S.-Mexico Air Transport 

Agreement. On December 12, 2005, the Governments of the United States and Mexico signed 

an amendment to the Bilateral broadening air transport services between the two counties and 

permitting designated Mexican carrier, to operate from a “point or points in Mexico to a point or 

points in the United States”. vivaAerobus’s proposed services are clearly within the scope of the 

U.S.-Mexico bilateral. The above referenced routes are available for service by a Mexican 

carrier pursuant to Annex I Paragraph B.5 of the 2005 Amendment. 
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

Monterrey-Houston Exemption 

Page 3 of 3 

7. Grant of this exemption is consistent with the public interest. vivaAerobus’s 

scheduled operations will increase competition in U.S.-Mexico market and provide low-cost 

travel options to passengers. 

WHEREFORE, vivaAerobus respectfully request the Department grant it an exemption 

from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 as well as such other and further relief as the Department may deem 

necessary to allow vivaAerobus to engage in scheduled foreign air transport of persons, property, 

and mail between Monterrey, Mexico – Houston, Texas. 

Respectfully Submitted, 

 ___________________________ 

David M. Kirstein 

Joanne W. Young 

 KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC 

1750 K Street N.W. 

Suite 200 

 Washington, D.C. 20006 

(202) 331-3348 (telephone) 

Counsel for 

 Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

April 1, 2010
Certificate of Service 

I certify that on this 1st Day of April, 2010, a copy of the foregoing 

Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. for Exemption was served 

by email on the following: 

carl.nelson@aa.com

dan.weiss@coair.com

hershel.kamen@coair.com 

jeffrey.manley@united.com

jrichardson@johnlrichardson.com

sllunsford@fedex.com 

anbird@fedex.com

dvaughan@kelleydrye.com

rbkeiner@crowell.com

msinick@ssd.com

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com 

sametta.c.barnett@delta.com 

jeff.morgan@delta.com 

slachter@lachter-clements.com

pmurphy@lopmurphy.com

benjamin_slocum@usairways.com

howard_kass@usairways.com

robert.land@jetblue.com 

efaberman@wileyrein.com

john.allen@faa.gov 

byerlyjr@state.gov 

brian.hedberg@dot.gov 

george.wellington@dot.gov 

jhill@dlalaw.com 

 

 ______________________ 

 Nury A. Turkel