### SI0-100217-032

1200 Nqo/Jel'$sY Avenue. SE Assistant Secretary U.S. Department .,( ',. 1-yVashln6ton , DC 20590 I of Transportation "-'\
",**.;~~:** Office ofthe Secretary '4:' ofTransportation 

### MAR 10 

## 2010

The Honorable Joseph P. Cryan Assemblyman, 20tll 

### District New Jersey General Assembly 985 StuyvesantAvenue Union, NJ 07083 DearMr. Cryan: Thank you for yourletter 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 StarAlliance-are seeking antitrust immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According to the. application, the alliance partners plan to launch ajoint venture for conveyance oftranspacific

. traffic. The application is administered in apublic docket, which ensures that interested partieshave 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 if

### it is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation with the U.S. Departmentof Justice's Antitrust Divisionfollowing a thorough analysis of competitive factors. As this matter is now pending, Ihope you understand that Icannot commeNt on the merits ofthe application. Ican 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 ournormal practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour 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 ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Secretary LaHood: I am 'Nriting in support ofthe ContinentallUnitediAll Nippon Airwaysjoint application for antitrust immunity and approval for the three carriers to create the first everjoint airline venture between the U.S. and Asia. Last year, I supported Continental's Trans-Atlantic antitrust immunity andjoint venture application tojoin the Star Alliance given the consumerbenefits 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 believecooperntion among airlines benefits air travel consumers, airline competition, and drivesjobs and economic growth. With the recent U.S.

- Japan open skies agreement, barriers to' new air service between ourregion 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 travelingbetween the U.S. and Asia. 

### I enco ... you to approve thisjoint apPlicatiras promptly as possible. 

### Be r**~aris,**



## . YL.;-7 I J'r/r:,,,,.,1Y1J, Cryan

ssemblyman, District 20

Printedon RecycledPaper