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# o. . . U.S. Depdrtment Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation Office of theSecretary ofTransportation 

## JUN 1 0

## 2010

The Honorable Chester J. Culver Governor ofIowa Des Moines, IA 50319 Dear Governor Culver: Thank you for your letter supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I amresponding onbehalfofthe Secretary. As you may know, the applicants-members ofthe oneworld Alliance-are seeking antitrust immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According to the application, the alliance partners plan to launch ajointventure for transpacific traffic. The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the opportunityto comment. The U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to determine ifit is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation with the U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of competitive factors. As this matter is nowpending, I hope you understand that I cannot comment on the merits ofthe application. I can assure you, however, that DOTwill give full and fair consideration to the application as well as any comments filed in the docket. As is ournormal practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letterand this response in Docket' DOT-OST-2010-0059 as a contactoutside the record inthis matter. I appreciate your intere,st in this proceeding.**'.:;~ ~**  Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

### S I0- L0041 5-0 1 1

C.HESTER J. CULVER 

### OFFICEOF THE GOVERNOR PATTY JUDGE GOVERNOR LT. GOVERNOR April 07, 2010 The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood Secretary
. ., U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 

### 20590
· Docket DOT-OST

### -2010._

Dear Mr. Secretary:

·Thank you for the opportunity to express my support for the application for antitrust immunity and proposed joint business agreement filed by American Airlines and Japan
· Airlines. The proposed alliance between these two airlines is vital for the oneworld alliance to compete effectively with the Star and SkyTeam alliances. This increased alliance competition will in turn enhance thebenefits ofthe Department's Open Skies policy - first by solidifying U.S. - Japan Open Skies, then by serving as a foundation for further liberalization acrosS Asia;
... , . After a thorough review, I encourage the Department ofTransportation to approve this application as·it would enable these one world alliance airlines to work closely together to deliver highly competitive air-transportation services. Approval for AAlJAL alliance will have a positive impact on air travel by offering customers more service, scheduling' and pricing options and will help to ensUre that customers continue to benefit from the competition afforded by three**competitiveai~** alliances. I urgeyou to quickly approve this application.

Chester

### J. Culver Governor of Iowa**~** " .

STATE**C~PI:rOL** DES MOIN'ES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 FAX 515.281.6611 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV

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