Order 2012-3-6

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 8th day of March, 2012

Served: March 8, 2012

Application of

WestJet Docket DOT-OST-2001-11158 

 

for exemption renewal under 49 U.S.C. §40109 and a 

foreign air carrier permit under 49 U.S.C. §41301

ORDER RENEWING EXEMPTION AND TO SHOW CAUSE

Summary

By this order we (1) grant the application of the referenced foreign air carrier for a renewed

exemption under 49 U.S.C. §40109, subject to conditions;1 and (2) tentatively find that it is in 

the public interest to grant the applicant a foreign air carrier permit attached as Appendix B to 

this order.

Background

On August 23, 2005, the Department issued a Notice, in Docket DOT-OST-2005-22228, 

announcing several steps designed to streamline our regulatory procedures for licensing U.S. and 

foreign air carriers. Among other things, the Notice stated that:

Assuming, based on the record and on the public interest/public convenience and necessity 

elements germane to our licensing decisions, that we were in a position to act favorably, we 

would proceed to issue a single order (1) granting the exemption request for whatever 

duration we would normally have imposed, or until certificate/permit authority becomes 

effective, whichever is shorter, and (2) tentatively deciding (i.e., show-cause) to award a 

corresponding certificate (or permit), again for the standard duration we would normally have 

imposed (such as, in the case of certificates, five years for limited-entry markets, indefinite for 

open-entry markets, and in the case of permits, five years for comity and reciprocity regimes, 

indefinite for agreement regimes).

 1 The conditions are attached as Appendix A.
2

Our action in this Order serves to implement these streamlined regulatory procedures for the 

application involved in this proceeding.

Application

By application filed December 2, 2011, as supplemented February 28, 2012, WestJet, a foreign 

air carrier of Canada, requests (1) renewal of its current exemption2 under 49 U.S.C. §40109, to 

engage in (i) scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail from points 

behind Canada via Canada and intermediate points to a point or points in the United States and 

beyond; (ii) charter foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between any point or 

points in Canada and any point or points in the United States and any point or points in a third 

country or countries, provided that, except with respect to cargo charters, such service constitutes 

part of a continuous operation, with or without a change of aircraft, that includes service to 

Canada for the purpose of carrying local traffic between Canada and the United States; and (iii) 

other charters in accordance with 14 CFR Part 212; and (2) a foreign air carrier permit to conduct 

the services described above.

The applicant provided evidentiary materials required by 14 CFR Part 211 of our regulations to 

support its requests for authority.

No answers were filed to WestJet’s application.

Decision

We have decided, under assigned authority and consistent with our August 23, 2005 Notice 

referenced above, to grant the applicant’s request for renewal of its exemption authority, subject 

to conditions, and tentatively to grant, subject to show-cause procedures, its request for a foreign 

air carrier permit, also subject to conditions.

With respect to the applicant’s request for renewal of its exemption authority, we find that grant 

of this authority is consistent with the public interest; that the applicant has demonstrated, based 

on the record, that it is financially and operationally qualified to perform the services authorized, 

and that it is substantially owned and effectively controlled by citizens of its claimed homeland.3

 

 2 By Notice of Action Taken dated December 4, 2009, in Docket DOT-OST-2001-11158, WestJet was granted 

exemption authority to engage in (1) scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail from points 

behind Canada via Canada and intermediate points to a point or points in the United States and beyond; (2) charter 

foreign air transportation between any point or points in Canada and any point or points in the United States and any 

point or points in a third country or countries, provided that, except with respect to cargo charters, such service 

constitutes part of a continuous operation, with or without a change of aircraft, that includes service to Canada for 

the purpose of carrying local traffic between Canada and the United States; and (3) other charters in accordance with 

14 CFR Part 212. 3 The applicant states that WestJet is a Canadian partnership comprised of WestJet Investment Corp. and WestJet 

Operations Corp., both of which are wholly owned by WestJet Airlines Ltd., a Canadian holding Company. WestJet 

Airlines Ltd. is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the record indicates that 

approximately 94.91% of its common voting shares are held, directly or indirectly, by Canadian citizens. The record 

further indicates that the applicant’s Chairman of the Board holds dual British and Canadian citizenship; its 

President and CEO holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship; and the majority of its remaining key personnel are 

Canadian citizens.
3

The authority sought by the applicant is encompassed by the Air Transport Agreement between 

the United States and Canada. We also note that the applicant is properly licensed by its 

homeland to perform the proposed services. 

In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration advised us that it knew of no reason why we 

should act unfavorably on the applicant’s requests. We have verified the applicant’s compliance 

with 14 CFR Parts 203 (Warsaw liability waiver), and 205 (insurance requirements).

We therefore find that grant of the requested exemption authority, for a two-year term, or until 

the requested permit authority becomes effective, whichever occurs earlier, is warranted.

Tentative Findings and Conclusions--Foreign Air Carrier Permit Application

We tentatively find and conclude that the public interest warrants granting the applicant a foreign 

air carrier permit, in the form attached as Appendix B to this order, and subject to the conditions 

attached.4

 In particular, we tentatively find and conclude that the factors which support our grant 

of exemption authority to the applicant also warrant granting the applicant the foreign air carrier 

permit is seeks.

In view of the foregoing and all facts of record, we tentatively find and conclude that:

1. It is in the public interest to issue the applicant a foreign air carrier permit in the form 

attached;

2. The applicant is fit, willing and able properly to perform the foreign air transportation 

described in the attached permit and to conform to the provisions of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, 

and to our rules, regulations, and requirements;

3. The applicant is substantially owned and effectively controlled by citizens of its claimed 

homeland;

4. The public interest requires that the exercise of the privileges granted by the permit should be 

subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations contained in the attached permit, and to such 

other reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations required by the public interest as we may 

prescribe;

5. The issuance of this foreign air carrier permit will not constitute a major regulatory action 

under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as defined in 14 CFR §313.4(a)(1) of our 

regulations;5

 4 The applicant’s request for a foreign air carrier permit was summarized in the Department’s published weekly list 

of applications filed. This notice described the authority sought and gave interested persons an opportunity to 

submit evidence and objections to the award of this foreign air carrier permit authority. As noted above, no answers 

to the application were filed. 5

 This finding is based on the fact that the grant of this permit will not result in a near-term net annual change in 

aircraft fuel consumption of 10 million gallons or more.
4

6. The public interest does not require an oral evidentiary hearing on the application; and

7. Our action with respect to this foreign air carrier permit should, unless disapproved by the 

President of the United States under §41307 of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, become effective on 

the 61st day after its submission for §41307 review, or upon the date of receipt of advice from 

the President or his designee under Executive Order 12597 and implementing regulations that he 

or she does not intend to disapprove this portion of the Department’s decision under that section, 

whichever occurs earlier.

In view of the above, and acting under authority assigned by the Department in its regulations, 

14 CFR Part 385, we find that (1) our actions are consistent with Department policy; and (2) with 

respect to the exemption authority we are conferring on the applicant, the applicant is qualified to 

perform those operations; and that grant of the exemption authority is consistent with the public 

interest and would not constitute a major regulatory action under the Energy Policy and 

Conservation Act of 1975.

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We grant the request of WestJet for renewal of its exemption under 49 U.S.C. §40109 to 

permit it to engage in (i) scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail from 

points behind Canada via Canada and intermediate points to a point or points in the United States 

and beyond; (ii) charter foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between any 

point or points in Canada and any point or points in the United States and any point or points in a 

third country or countries, provided that, except with respect to cargo charters, such service 

constitutes part of a continuous operation, with or without a change of aircraft, that includes 

service to Canada for the purpose of carrying local traffic between Canada and the United States;

and (iii) other charters in accordance with 14 CFR Part 212;

2. The exercise of the privileges granted above is subject to compliance by WestJet with the 

conditions listed in Appendix A;

3. Our action granting the renewed exemption authority described herein is effective 

immediately, for a period of two years from the issue date of this order, or until the attached 

permit becomes effective, whichever is earlier;

4. We may amend, modify, or revoke the exemption authority set forth herein at our discretion 

at any time and without hearing;

5. To the extent not acted upon above, we dismiss the applicant’s request for exemption 

authority in this Docket (DOT-OST-2001-11158);

6. With respect to the applicant’s request for a foreign air carrier permit in this proceeding, we 

direct all interested persons to show cause why our tentative decision on that application, set 

forth above, should not be made final;

7. Any interested person objecting to the issuance of an order making final our tentative findings 

and conclusions with respect to the applicant’s request for a foreign air carrier permit shall, no 
5

later than twenty-one (21) calendar days after the date of service of this order, file with the 

Department and serve on the parties to this proceeding, a statement of objections specifying the 

part or parts of the tentative findings and conclusions objected to, together with a summary of 

testimony, statistical data, and concrete evidence to be relied upon in support of the objections; if 

objections are filed, answers to objections are due no later than seven (7) calendar days 

thereafter;

8. If timely and properly supported objections are filed, we will give further consideration to the 

matters and issues raised by the objections before we take further action;

9. In the event no objections are filed, all further procedural steps shall be deemed waived, and 

the Department will enter an order which will (subject to Presidential review under §41307 of 

Title 49 of the U.S. Code) make final our tentative findings and conclusions set forth in this 

order; and

10. We will serve a copy of this order on WestJet, the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C., 

the Federal Aviation Administration, and the U.S. Department of State.

Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of this order under the Department’s 

regulations, 14 CFR §385.30, may file their petitions within seven (7) days after the date of 

issuance of this order. Our action with respect to the applicant’s request for exemption authority 

under 49 U.S.C. §40109 is effective immediately, and the filing of a petition for review will not 

alter such effectiveness.

By:

PAUL L. GRETCH

Director

Office of International Aviation

(SEAL)

Appendices

An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at:

http://www.regulations.gov
Appendix A

Foreign Carrier Exemption Conditions

In the conduct of the operations authorized, the foreign carrier applicant(s) shall:

(1) Not conduct any operations unless it holds a currently effective authorization from its homeland for 

such operations, and it has filed a copy of such authorization with the Department;

(2) Comply with all applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation 

Security Administration, and with all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning security, 

including, but not limited to, 14 CFR Parts 129, 91, and 36 and 49 CFR Part 1546 or 1550, as applicable. 

To assure compliance with all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning security, the holder 

shall, before commencing any new service (including charter flights) from a foreign airport that would be 

the holder’s last point of departure for the United States, contact its International Industry Representative 

(IIR) (formerly referred to as International Principal Security Inspector) to advise the IIR of its plans and 

to find out whether the Transportation Security Administration has determined that security is adequate to 

allow such airport(s) to be served;

(3) Comply with the requirements for minimum insurance coverage contained in 14 CFR Part 205, and, 

prior to the commencement of any operations under this authority, file evidence of such coverage, in the 

form of a completed OST Form 6411, with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Program Management 

Branch (AFS-260), Flight Standards Service (any changes to, or termination of, insurance also shall be 

filed with that office);

(4) Not operate aircraft under this authority unless it complies with operational safety requirements at 

least equivalent to Annex 6 of the Chicago Convention;

(5) Conform to the airworthiness and airman competency requirements of its Government for 

international air services;

(6) Except as specifically exempted or otherwise provided for in a Department Order, comply with the 

requirements of 14 CFR Part 203, concerning waiver of Warsaw Convention liability limits and defenses;

(7) Agree that operations under this authority constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity, for the purposes 

of 28 U.S.C. 1605(a), but only with respect to those actions or proceedings instituted against it in any 

court or other tribunal in the United States that are: (a) based on its operations in international air 

transportation that, according to the contract of carriage, include a point in the United States as a point of 

origin, point of destination, or agreed stopping place, or for which the contract of carriage was purchased 

in the United States; or (b) based on a claim under any international agreement or treaty cognizable in any 

court or other tribunal of the United States. In this condition, the term "international air transportation" 

means "international transportation" as defined by the Warsaw Convention, except that all States shall be 

considered to be High Contracting Parties for the purpose of this definition;

(8) Except as specifically authorized by the Department, originate or terminate all flights to/from the 

United States in its homeland;

(9) Comply with the requirements of 14 CFR Part 217, concerning the reporting of scheduled, 

nonscheduled, and charter data;

(10) If charter operations are authorized, except as otherwise provided in the applicable aviation 

agreement, comply with the Department's rules governing charters (including 14 CFR Parts 212 and 380); 

and

(11) Comply with such other reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations required by the public interest 

as may be prescribed by the Department, with all applicable orders or regulations of other U.S. agencies 

and courts, and with all applicable laws of the United States.

This authority shall not be effective during any period when the holder is not in compliance with the 

conditions imposed above. Moreover, this authority cannot be sold or otherwise transferred without 

explicit Department approval under Title 49 of the U.S. Code.

12/2007
Appendix B

Issued by

Order 2012-__-__

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

--------------------------------------------------------

PERMIT TO FOREIGN AIR CARRIER

---------------------------------------------------------

WestJet

A Foreign Air Carrier of Canada

is authorized, subject to the following provisions, the provisions of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, 

and the orders, rules, and regulations of the Department of Transportation, to engage in:

Scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail from points 

behind Canada via Canada and intermediate points to a point or points in the United 

States and beyond; and 

Charter foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between any point 

or points in Canada and any point or points in the United States and any point or 

points in a third country or countries, provided that, except with respect to cargo 

charters, such service constitutes part of a continuous operation, with or without a 

change of aircraft, that includes service to Canada for the purpose of carrying local 

traffic between Canada and the United States.

The holder shall also be authorized to engage in other charter trips in foreign air transportation, 

subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the Department’s regulations governing 

charters.

This permit and the exercise of the privileges granted in it shall be subject to the terms, 

conditions and limitations in both the order issuing this permit and the attachment to this order, 

and to all applicable provisions of any treaty, convention or agreement affecting international air 

transportation now in effect, or that may become effective during the period this permit remains 

in effect, to which the United States and the holder’s homeland are or shall become parties.

This permit shall be effective on __________. Unless otherwise terminated at an earlier date 

pursuant to the terms of any applicable treaty, convention or agreement, this permit shall 

terminate (1) upon the dissolution or liquidation of the holder to whom it was issued; (2) upon 

the effective date of any treaty, convention, or agreement or amendment, which shall have the 

effect of eliminating the bilateral right for the service authorized by this permit from the service 

which may be operated by airlines designated by the Government of Canada (or, if the right is 

partially eliminated, then the authority of this permit shall terminate in like part); (3) upon the 

effective date of any permit granted by the Department to any other carrier designated by the 

Government of Canada in lieu of the holder; or (4) upon the termination or expiration of the 
applicable air services agreement between the United States and Canada. However, clause (4) 

of this paragraph shall not apply if prior to such termination or expiration, the foreign air 

transportation authorized herein becomes the subject of another treaty, convention or agreement 

to which the United States and Canada become parties.

The Department of Transportation has executed this permit and affixed its seal on

By:

PAUL L. GRETCH

Director

Office of International Aviation

(SEAL)
Foreign Air Carrier Permit Conditions

In the conduct of the operations authorized, the foreign carrier applicant(s) shall:

(1) Not conduct any operations unless it holds a currently effective authorization from its homeland for such 

operations, and it has filed a copy of such authorization with the Department;

(2) Comply with all applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security 

Administration, and with all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning security, including, but not 

limited to, 14 CFR Parts 129, 91, and 36 and 49 CFR Part 1546 or 1550, as applicable. To assure compliance with 

all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning security, the holder shall, before commencing any new 

service (including charter flights) from a foreign airport that would be the holder’s last point of departure for the 

United States, contact its International Industry Representative (IIR) (formerly referred to as International Principal 

Security Inspector) to advise the IIR of its plans and to find out whether the Transportation Security Administration 

has determined that security is adequate to allow such airport(s) to be served;

(3) Comply with the requirements for minimum insurance coverage contained in 14 CFR Part 205, and, prior to the 

commencement of any operations under this authority, file evidence of such coverage, in the form of a completed 

OST Form 6411, with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Program Management Branch (AFS-260), Flight 

Standards Service (any changes to, or termination of, insurance also shall be filed with that office);

(4) Not operate aircraft under this authority unless it complies with operational safety requirements at least equivalent 

to Annex 6 of the Chicago Convention;

(5) Conform to the airworthiness and airman competency requirements of its Government for international air 

services;

(6) Except as specifically exempted or otherwise provided for in a Department Order, comply with the requirements 

of 14 CFR Part 203, concerning waiver of Warsaw Convention liability limits and defenses;

(7) Agree that operations under this authority constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity, for the purposes of 28 

U.S.C. 1605(a), but only with respect to those actions or proceedings instituted against it in any court or other 

tribunal in the United States that are: (a) based on its operations in international air transportation that, according to 

the contract of carriage, include a point in the United States as a point of origin, point of destination, or agreed 

stopping place, or for which the contract of carriage was purchased in the United States; or (b) based on a claim 

under any international agreement or treaty cognizable in any court or other tribunal of the United States. In this 

condition, the term "international air transportation" means "international transportation" as defined by the Warsaw 

Convention, except that all States shall be considered to be High Contracting Parties for the purpose of this 

definition;

(8) Except as specifically authorized by the Department, originate or terminate all flights to/from the United States in 

its homeland;

(9) Comply with the requirements of 14 CFR Part 217, concerning the reporting of scheduled, nonscheduled, and 

charter data;

(10) If charter operations are authorized, except as otherwise provided in the applicable aviation agreement, comply 

with the Department's rules governing charters (including 14 CFR Parts 212 and 380); and

(11) Comply with such other reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations required by the public interest as may be 

prescribed by the Department, with all applicable orders or regulations of other U.S. agencies and courts, and with all 

applicable laws of the United States.

This authority shall not be effective during any period when the holder is not in compliance with the conditions 

imposed above. Moreover, this authority cannot be sold or otherwise transferred without explicit Department 

approval under Title 49 of the U.S. Code.

12/2007