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S 10-10021 7 -034 


U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Office of the Seoretary 

Assistant Secretary 

, 

" 

II ~~ , 

1200 N\lY' JerS4:lY Avenue, SE 

Washlligton, DC 20590 '-! I ' \ . " ....~ 

of Transportation 'I~it 

MAR 10 2010 

Mr. John Galandak 

President 

Commerce and Industry Association 

ofNew Jersey 

South 61 Paramus Road 

Paramus, NJ 07652 

Dear Mr. Galandak: . 

Thank you for your letter supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by An Nippon 

Airways. United Air Lines, and Continental Airlines. 

As you may know. the appHcants,"-members of the Star Alliance-are seeking antitrust 

immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States andAsia. 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 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 ofthe record to 

detennine ifit is substantially complete, Decisions on the application are made in consultation 

with the U.s. Department of Justice's AntiitUst 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 of the 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 ofyour letter and this response in Docket 

DOT~OST82009-_ 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 10-1 00217-034 


ClAra 


Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey 

South 61 Paramus Road, Mack-Call Centre IV, Paramus, New Jersey 07652 

201·368-2100 Fax 201-368·3438 lIWJW.cianJ.org 

January 27,2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

lam writing in support of the ContinentallUnitedlAll Nippon Airways joint application for 

antitrust immunity and approval for the three carriers to create the first ever joint airline venture 

between the U.S. and Asia. 

Last year, I supported Continental's Trans-Atlantic antitrust immunity and joint venture 

application to join the Star Alliance given the consumer benefits it would provide. Continental's 

subsequent entrance into Star has enhanced competition among all three global alliances in the 

NewarklNew York City region and, for instance, is the primary reason Continental is launching 

new non·stop service between Newark Liberty and Munich, Germany later this year. I am 

confident that approval ofthe Pacific application can also be helpful to Continental in expanding 

its network in the Pacific region once economic conditions warrant. 

I firmly believe cooperation among airlines benefits air travel consumers, airline competition, 

and drives jobs and economic growth. With the recent U.S.• Japan open skies agreement, 

barriers to new air service between our region and points in Japan have been removed. Antitrust 

immunity will enable all three airlines to make coordinated decisions that will give airline 

customers and shippers more flight choices, more itinerary options, and more fares to choose 

from when traveling between the U.S. and Asia. 

I encourage you to approve this joint application as promptly as possible. 

Best regards, 

eP-d 

New Jersey's business advocate for over 80 years.