SI0-100217-032 


1200 Nqo/ Jel'$sY Avenue. SE U.S. Department Assistant Secretary .,( ',. 1-yVashln6ton, DC 20590 of Transportation "-'\ I

", .;~~: Office of the Secretary '4:' 

ofTransportation MAR 10 2010 

The Honorable Joseph P. Cryan 

Assemblyman, 20tll District 

New Jersey General Assembly 

985 Stuyvesant Avenue 

Union, NJ 07083 

Dear Mr. Cryan: 

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

Airways, United Air Lines, and Continental Airlines. 

As you may know, the applicants-members ofthe Star 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 oftranspacific . 

traffic. 

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

opportunity to comment. The U.S. Dep~ent 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. DepartmentofJustice'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 fun 

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-2009~_ 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 
SJO-100217-032 


NEW JERSEY GENERAL ASSEMBLY 


JOSEPH CRYAN DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER 

ASSEMBLYMAN, 20TH DISTRICT CHAIR, EDUCATION COMMI'ITEE 

985 STUYVESANT AVENUE MEMBER, ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMI'ITEE 

UNION, NJ 07083 

(908) 624-0880 

FAX: (908) 624-0587 

astn~a~leg.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: 

I am 'Nriting in support of the ContinentallUnitediAll 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 of the Pacific application can also be helpful to Continental in expanding 

its network in the Pacific region once economic conditions warrant. 

I firmly believecooperntion 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 enco ... you to approve this joint apPlicatir as promptly as possible. 

Be r ~aris, 

.YL.;-7 I 

J'r/r:,,,,.,1Y1J, Cryan 

ssemblyman, District 20 

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