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US. Department of Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Transportation Washington, DC 20590 

Office Of the Secretary October 12. 2010 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Charlie Crist 

Governor of Florida 

Tallahassee, FL 32399 

Dear Governor Crist: 

Thank you for your letter expressing support for the application of Delta Air Lines to provide new 

nonstop service between Miami and London's Heathrow International Airport. I am pleased to 

respond to your letter on behalf of Secretary LaHood. 

The application of Delta follows from a recent case at the U.S. Department of Transportation (the 

Department) in which American Airlines and its partners in the "oneworld" alliance requested a 

grant of immunity from the antitrust laws to more closely coordinate their transatlantic flights. In 

that case, the Department approved the request on the condition, among others, that oneworld 

make Heathrow slots available to competitors to launch four new daily round trip flights. The 

condition - designed to ensure adequate competition in the U.S.-U.K. market - also required that 

an independent trustee oversee the transfer of the slots. 

Based on this requirement, the process in which all slot transfer applications are considered is 

being administered by the trustee. However, given the importance of these new airline services to 

U.S. consumers and the airline industry, the Department is involved in the process to ensure that 

U.S. airlines receive full and fair consideration. The European Commission has imposed the same 

condition on the oneworld alliance and created a detailed mechanism to implement the antitrust 

remedy since the airport in question, Heathrow, is subject to European slot regulation. 

I appreciate your interest in Delta's application. If you have additional questions or concerns, feel 

free to contact me. 

Inctfrely yours. 

fusan L. Kurland 

ssistant Secretary for 

AviSftion and International Affairs 
810-100920-012 

CHARLIE CRIST 

GOVERNOR 

September 15, 2010 

Commissioner Joaquin Almunia 

Vice-President of the European Commission, 

Responsible for Competition Policy European Commission 

B-1049 Brussels 

The Honorable Ray LaHood, Secretary 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Application of Delta Air Lines for Miami-London Heathrow Slots 

Dear Mr. Vice-President and Mr. Secretary: 

I am writing to enthusiastically SijppQTt the application oLD.elta.Air Lines to 

provide competitive nonstop service on the Mjami-London Heathrow route. London is a 

very important international market for Miami business and leisure travelers alike, and 

the introduction of new service by Delta will help to ensure effective competition 

following the grant of antitrust immunity to American and British Airways. 

Delta operates more service in Florida than any other airline and has a large 

base of customers and frequent fliers. Delta's SkyTeam alliance partners Air France, 

Alitalia, Aeromexico and Air Europa all serve Miami, and the addition of nonstop Delta 

service to London will significantly enhance competition among the three major 

alliances. This is particularly important since SkyTeam has fewer slots at London 

Heathrow than the Oneworld and Star Alliance carriers. 

Tourism is Florida's number one industry, employing over one million Floridians, 

and the United Kingdom is Florida's top international visitor maritet after Canada. The 

addition of new service by Delta on the Miami-London route will serve as a catalyst for 

tourism and commerce. Accordingly, we urge you to grant Delta's request. 

Chariie Crist 

THE CAPITOL 

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399 • (850) 488-2272 • FAX (850) 922-4292