OF TRANSPORTATION . 
 n(~r'!(:T(, 1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE Assistant Secretary U.S. Department .". \Jl"~ I U Washington. DC 20590 

of Transportation 

Office March 25, 2010 of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Mary Lib Saleh 

Mayor of Euless 

Euless, TX 76039-3595 

Dear Mayor Saleh: 

Thank: you for your letter of February 25 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed 

by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalf of Secretary LaHood. 

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 conveyance of transpacific 

traffic. 

The application is administered in a public docket, which en~ures that interested parties have the 

opportunity to comment. The U.8. Department of Transportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to",; 

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

with the U.S. Department qf 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 DOT will 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 letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2010-_as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. . 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary 


for Aviation and International Affairs 

S 10-100304-023 


Mary Lib Saleh 

MAYOR February 25, 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 toexpr~ss my support for the application for antitrust 

immunity and proposed joint busin(ilssagreement 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 

t~rf,her liberalization across Asia. 

After a thorough· review. I 'encourage the Department of Transportation to approve this 

application as it would~nable t,hase oneworld alliance airlines to work closely together 

to deliver highly competitive air transportation services. Approval for ANJAL 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 competitive air alliances; 

Again, I urge you to quickly approve this application. 

Sincerely, 

Mary Lib Saleh 

Mayo( .. <'.",.i:" .• ,. l!' , ,­

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201 N. Ector Drive, Euless,Texas 76039-3595 

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