Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation 

Apr:l1 14, 2010 Office of the Secretary 

ofTransportation 

The Honorable Joe Straus 

Speaker 

Texas House ofRepresentatives 

Austin, TX 78768 

Dear Speaker Straus: 

Thank you for your letter ofMarch 23 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. Accordingto 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. Department of Transportation (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. Department of 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 ofyour letter and this response in Docket . 

DOT-OST-2010-0059as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. 

usan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary 

for Aviation and International Affairs 
S 1 0-1 00329-004 


H 0 USE 0 F REP RES E N T AT I V E S 

JOE STRAUS 

SPEAKER 

March 23, 2010 

The Honorable Ray H. LaHood 


Secretary 


U.S. Department ofTransportation 


1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 


Washington, D.C. 20590 


Subject: Docket DOT-OST-20I0~ 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

I offer my support for the application for antitrust immunity and proposed joint business agreement 


submitted by American Ail'lines and Japan Airlines (JAL). Over the last several years, airlines have 


created alliances-tOTealize-oosrreaucliOl'is;'iiicrease oenefits to the traveler and fllrther liberalize 


commercial air travel between the United States and other countries. 


The proposed joint business agreement between American and JAL. members of the Oneworld 

Alliance, serves these purposes. Members of the Oneworld Alliance will be able to offer additional 

service, scheduling and pricing options for air travel customers. 

Additionally, this alliance between American and JAL is critical for them to compete effectively with 

. the members of the Star and Sky Team alliances. Travelers between the two nations will benefit from 

competitive air transportation choices and options. Increased competition among the alliances 

enhances the benefits of the department's Open Skies policy by further liberalizing commercial air 

transport and specifically solidifying travel between the United States and Japan. 

I respectfully urge you to approve the application submitted by the Oneworld Alliance airline 


members. 


Sincerely, 

JRS/ja 

Al.'S,".r1N, TIlXA5 7876H-2910 .. (;12) 463-1000 • FAX (512) 463-0671 P . . 0 B ox 2910 ..