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BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

MESA AIRLINES, INC.

for exemptions under 49 U.S.C. § 40109

(Phoenix - Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mexico)

(Phoenix - Puerto Vallarta/San Jose del Cabo, Mexico)

(Phoenix - Mazatlan, Mexico)

(Phoenix - Guadalajara, Mexico)

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Docket DOT-OST-2009-0109

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0212

Docket DOT-OST-2003-16529

Docket DOT-OST-2004-19546

APPLICATION OF MESA AIRLINES, INC.

FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITIES

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

Brian Gillman

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

410 North 44th Street, Suite 700

Phoenix, AZ 85008

TEL: 602-685-4000

FAX: 602-685-4350

Robert E. Cohn

Patrick R. Rizzi

HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP

Columbia Square

555 Thirteenth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

TEL: 202-637-4999/-5659

robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com

patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com

Counsel for

MESA AIRLINES, INC.

February 3, 2015
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BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

MESA AIRLINES, INC.

for an exemption under 49 U.S.C. § 40109

(Phoenix - Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mexico)

(Phoenix - Puerto Vallarta/San Jose del Cabo, Mexico)

(Phoenix - Mazatlan, Mexico)

(Phoenix - Guadalajara, Mexico)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0109

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0212

Docket DOT-OST-2003-16529

Docket DOT-OST-2004-19546

February 3, 2015

APPLICATION OF MESA AIRLINES, INC.

FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITIES

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 and Subpart C of the Department’s Rules

of Practice (14 C.F.R. Part 302), Mesa Airlines, Inc. (“Mesa”) applies for renewal

of its exemption authorities to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of

persons, property, and mail between Phoenix, Arizona (“PHX”), on the one hand,

and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (“ZIH”), Puerto Vallarta (“PVR”), San Jose del Cabo

(“SJD”), Mazatlan (“MZT”), and Guadalajara (“GDL”), Mexico, on the other hand.

Mesa intends to continue operating service on these routes under the

“US Airways Express” brand name.

In support of this Application to renew its exemption authorities, Mesa

respectfully states as follows:

1. Mesa is a Nevada corporation with its principal office at 410 North

44th Street, Suite 700, Phoenix, Arizona, 85008.
Application of Mesa Airlines, Inc. for Renewal of Exemption Authorities

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2. Mesa is a citizen of the United States within the meaning of

49 U.S.C. § 40102(a)(15) and is fit, willing, and able to continue providing the

services contemplated by this renewal Application. Mesa holds various

certificates of public convenience and exemption authorities (including exemption

authority to serve certain points in Mexico). See, e.g., Notice of Action Taken,

dated October 24, 2014 (DFW-BJX/QRO) (Docket DOT-OST-2014-0179).

Pursuant to Rule 24 of the Department’s Rules of Practice, Mesa requests that

the Department take official notice of all information previously filed to establish

its fitness.

3. By Notice of Action Taken, dated April 8, 2013, in Docket DOTOST-2009-0109, the Department renewed Mesa’s exemption authority for two

years to provide scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and

mail between Phoenix and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo.

4. By Notice of Action Taken, dated June 21, 2013, in Docket DOTOST-2009-0212, the Department renewed Mesa’s exemption authority for two

years to provide scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and

mail between Phoenix, on the one hand, and Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del

Cabo, on the other hand.

5. By Notice of Action Taken, dated July 26, 2013, in Dockets DOTOST-2003-16529 and DOT-OST-2004-19546, respectively, the Department

renewed Mesa’s exemption authority for two years to provide scheduled foreign
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air transportation of persons, property, and mail between Phoenix and Mazatlan,

and between Phoenix and Guadalajara.

6. Mesa operates scheduled air service in the PHX-ZIH, PHX-PVR,

PHX-SJD, PHX-MZT, and PHX-GDL markets using regional jet aircraft as a

“US Airways Express” carrier. Renewal of Mesa’s exemption authorities will

enable Mesa to continue to offer public interest benefits by providing substantial

competition to other carriers offering trans-border U.S.–Mexico services, as well

as supporting commerce and enhancing travel options to the public.

7. In addition, co-extensive renewal of the PHX-Mexico exemption

authorities in these dockets would enhance administrative efficiency.

8. Renewal of these exemption authorities would also be consistent

with the U.S.–Mexico aviation agreement, as the Department has determined in

issuing and previously renewing its PHX-ZIH, PHX-PVR, PHX-SJD, PHX-MZT,

and PHX-GDL authorities. See, e.g., Notices of Action Taken, dated April 8,

2013 (Docket DOT-OST-2009-0109), dated June 21, 2013 (Docket DOT-OST2009-0212), dated July 26, 2013 (Dockets DOT-OST-2003-16529 and DOTOST-2004-19546).

9. Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. § 377.10, Mesa intends to rely on the

automatic extension provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §

558(c), implemented by Part 377, to continue in effect its current exemption

authorities pending a final determination on this renewal application. The PHX-
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ZIH authority at issue in this Application is effective through April 8, 2015. The

PHX-PVR and PHX-SJD authorities are effective through June 21, 2015. The

PHX-MZT and PHX-GDL authorities are effective through July 26, 2015.

Accordingly, this renewal application is timely filed under the provisions of Part

377.

WHEREFORE, Mesa respectfully requests that the Department grant

Mesa’s Application for Renewal of its exemption authorities to engage in

scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between

Phoenix, on the one hand, and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose del

Cabo, Mazatlan, and Guadalajara, Mexico, on the other hand, for another twoyear period, as requested herein.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________________________

Robert E. Cohn

Patrick R. Rizzi

HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP

555 Thirteenth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

202-637-4999/-5659

Counsel for

MESA AIRLINES, INC.
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing Motion of Mesa Airlines, Inc. for

Renewal of Exemption Authorities has been served this 3rd day of February 2015,

upon each of the following addresses:

dheffernan@cozen.com; howard.kass@aa.com; robert.wirick@aa.com;

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com; chris.walker@delta.com; matwood@cozen.com;

stephen.lachter@lachterlaw.com; jhill@cooley.com; perkmann@cooley.com;

bob.kneisley@wnco.com; leslie.abbott@wnco.com;

dkirstein@yklaw.com; jyoung@yklaw.com; thomas.ting@suncountry.com;

dan.weiss@united.com; steve.morrissey@united.com;

barbara.russell@virginamerica.com; brian.hedberg@dot.gov;

brett.kruger@dot.gov; englets@state.gov; info@airlineinfo.com

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