THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON , D
. C
. 20590 

### May 7, 2014

His Excellency Leo Varadkar Minister Department ofTransport, Tourism and Sport 44 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 IRELAND Dear Minister Varadkar: Thank you for your letter regarding the application ofNorwegian Air International Limited (NAI) for authority to conduct U.S. services. Given that a number of interested parties have filed responsive pleadings to NAI's application and this matter is currently pending before the Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the merits ofNAI's application. I assure you, however, that we will give full and careful consideration to all ofthe pleadings filed on the record before we reach a determination in this matter. As is our standard practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0204 , as a contact outside the record of this case. You may track the progress ofthis case and view the publicly available documents filed in the docket by acces sing the Federal Docket Management System at www.regulations.gov and searching for Docket DOT-OST-2013-0204. I hope this information is helpful.

Anthony R
. Foxx

# ,.,.

. ) Oifig an Aire 44 Srai d Chi ll Da ra, Ba1le At ha Cllat h 2, Ei re. 

### An Roinn lompair , Turasoireachta agus Spoirt



## _

,; Office of the Mini s ter Department of Transport. Tounsm and Sport 44 Kildare St reet , Dublin 2, Ireland. T el : +353 1 670 7444 Local! : 1890 443311 Fax : +353 1 604 1183 Web : www.dttas.ie Em ail : mmiste r @dttas
. l e 13 February, 2014 The Honourable Anthony 

### R. Foxx Secretary U.S
. Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20590
Rp·**Annlic~tion** ofNorweQian Air IntemationalLJmited for anj;xemQtion and**Forei~~** AiL_

_ ____ _ Carrier Permit (EU/lJ.S. Open Skies Agreement) (Docket OST-2013-0204). --...;
Dear Secretary Foxx I refer to the application of Norwegian Air International Limited (NAI) to provide foreign scheduled and charter air transportation to the full extent permitted under the EU/U.S. Air Transport Agreement (the "Open Skies Agreement"). I am pleased to report that the competent authorities in Ireland responsible for the grant ofAir Operator Certificates (AOC) and operating licenses, the Irish Aviation Authority and the Commission for Aviation Regulation respectively, have recently granted these approvals to NAI in accordance with the provisions of the applicable European Union law- Commission Regulation 965/2012 and Regulation 1 008/2008 ofthe Council and the Parliament. Given Ireland's strong tradition and reputation in the international aviation community, we are pleased that NAI selected Ireland as its principal place of business for the establishment of its new long-haul airline. I believe NAI's new services from Europe to new markets including the U.S. will help to promote competition, one of the key objectives of the Open Skies Agreement, which in tum will provide increased consumer choice and lower fares for passengers. In addition, NAI ' s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft are the most fuel efficient long hau\ aircraft on the market, and their introduction on NAI's transatlantic routes will further our two governments ' goals of limiting emissions and protecting the environment while strongly supporting the aerospace industry that is so important to innovation , economic growth and development in both the EU and the U.S. Ireland is also very proud of its strong reputation for robust regulatory oversight of civil aviation. As outlined above, our safety and fitness licensing regimes are based on EU law a nd also accord with all applicable ICAO requirements. Our safety oversight regime has been recognised as among the best in the world by ICAO under its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme. Finally, I wish to underline the importance Ireland attaches to the social dimension of the Open Skies Agreement and our commitment to the full implementation of Article 17 

### his of the Agreement.



# s 10-140305-004

### On the basis of the foregoing, I trust that the Department of Transportation now 

### has all the requisite information to grant the necessary authorisation to NAI, consistent with Articles 4 and 6 

### bis ofthe Open Skies Agreement. Should you or your staffneed additional information or assistance from my Department, we stand ready to assist. Yours sincerely

# ~-**~_.co...-~-- ~adbr**  Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport



# s 10-140305-004