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U.S. Depdrtment Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation 

Office of theSecretary 

of Transportation 

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 am responding on behalf ofthe 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 a joint venture for transpacific traffic. 


The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the 


opportunity to comment. The U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the 


application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review of the record to 


determine ifit is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation 


with the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of 


competitive factors. As this matter is now pending, 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 our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letterand this response in Docket' 


DOT-OST -2010-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your intere,st in 


this proceeding. '.:;~ ~ 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary for 


Aviation and International Affairs 

S I 0- L0041 5-0 1 1 


C.HESTER J. CULVER OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR PATTY JUDGE 

GOVERNOR LT. GOVERNOR 

April 07, 2010 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary . ., 

U.S. Department of Transportation 


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 the benefits of the 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 of Transportation 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 urge you to quickly approve this application. 

Chester J. Culver 


Governor of Iowa 


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

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