THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

May 7, 2014 

His Excellency Leo V aradkar 

Minister 

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport 

44 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 

IRELAND 

Dear Minister V aradkar: 

Thank you for your letter regarding the application of Norwegian 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 of the 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 

of this case and view the publicly available documents filed in the docket by accessing 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 Sraid Chill Dara, Ba1le Atha Cllath 2, Eire. 

An Roinn lompair, 

Turasoireachta agus Spoirt 

_,; 

Office of the Minister Department of Transport. Tounsm and Sport 

44 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. 

Tel: +353 1 670 7444 Local!: 1890 443311 Fax: +353 1 604 1183 Web: www.dttas.ie Email: mmister@dttas.le 

13 February, 2014 

The Honourable Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey A venue, 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 of Air 

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 of the 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 and 

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 of the Open Skies Agreement. Should you or your staff need 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