### THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHING T ON , DC 2 0590

His Excellency Ketil Solvik-Olsen Minister Royal Norwegian Ministry

ofTransport and Communications PO Box 8010 Dep, N-0030 Oslo, NORWAY Dear Minister Solvik-Olsen: April 03, 2014

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 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 ofyour letter and my response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0204 , as a contact outside the record ofthis 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. Sincerely,

Anthony R. FoxxROYAL NORWEGIAN MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Honourable Anthony R

. Foxx Secretary U.S. Department ofTransport 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E. Washington. DC 20590

Yo ur re f Docket No OST-2013-0204 The Mini s ter

Our ref Date 12/697 03.02.2014

Application by Norwegian Air Intemational Limited in accordance with the Air Transport Agreement between The United States of America and The European Community and its Member States and Norway and Iceland Dear Secretary Foxx , A s responsible Minister for Civil Aviation I would like to draw your attention to the pending application by Norwegian Air International Limited (NAI) for a foreign air carrier pern1it in accordance with the Air Transport Agreement between The United States of America and The European Union. Through the Agreement on the European Economic Area, Norway is fully integrated into the Common European Market for civil aviation , and has as such acceded to the EU-USA Agreement, together with Iceland.
NAI is a company substantially owned and controlled by the Norwegian company Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA. NAI is headquartered in Ireland, and Irish authotities are currently considering its application for Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and operating licence in accordance with common European legislation.
Provided that NAI receive s the neces sary approvals from Irish authorities , it is my intention to emphasize the close harmony between the foreseen effects of Norwegian ' s establishment of new air connections between the USA and EU, and the purpose of the USA-EU Agreement: a) The Parties entered into the Agreement in order to stimulate competition an1ong airlines without unnecessary government interference. 

### It is hardly any doubt that Norwegian will stimulate competition across the Atlantic.



# s 10-140211-018 Office addre ss : Akersg. 59 Telephone: +47 22 24 90 90 Po stal address: PO Box 80 I0 Dep, N-003 0 Oslo , Norway Org. no.: 972 4 17 904b) The Parties intended to extend the oppmtunities for the passengers by stimulating the products. Norwegian will establish direct connections between points which require transfer flights today, and thus provide clear benefits to consumers. c) The Parties wanted to contribute to reduction of prices on international flights. One of the main purposes of Norwegian is to extend the low price concept to also include the long haul market. European legislation on safety is ham10nised and among the leading standards globally. There is no doubt that European airlines, and the personnel they utili ze, are governed by the str ict standards ofthis legislation wherever they operate in the world.
To my knowledge, US Authorities have so far not expressed their considerations on the proper interpretation and application of Article 17 bis of the USA-EU Agreement

- on the "Social Dimension". But I believe we both are interested in striking a precise balance between truly innovative activities , benefiting the economy at large , and activities which are not consistent with a sound and legitimate maintenance ofUS and European aviation. It is challenging to collect and corroborate data on employment conditions in the global aviation industry, and the various practices will be in continuous motion. Practices which are acceptable today may be amended in a negative direction tomonow, and vice versa. I believe we should not hinder the establishment of new bu s iness models just because we cannot know for sure how they will develop. Instead, it is our respon si bility to uphold and enforce a robust national and international legislation , making it possible to put an end to unacceptable developments. In a letter of 15 January 2014 to Mr. Siim Kallas , vice president of the European Commission and responsible for civil aviation policy, I have tried to indicate how innovation and legitimate protection can be balanced in a precise way. I hope I have been able to convey that we will follow the development attentively.

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