1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Assistant Secretary U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590 ofTransportation Apr:l1 14, 2010 Office of the Secretary ofTransportation



### TheHonorable Joe Straus Speaker Texas House ofRepresentatives Austin, TX 78768 Dear Speaker Straus: Thankyou for your letter ofMarch 23 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed:by American Airlines andJapan Airlines. I amresponding onbehalfofSecretary LaHood
.

. As you may know, the applicants-members ofthe oneworld Alliance-are seeking antitrust
.

immunity to closely coordinate flights betweenthe UnitedStates and Asia. Accordingto the application, the alliance partners plan to launch ajointventure for conveyance oftranspacific traffic. The application is administered in a public docket, whichensures 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 determine ifitis substantially complete. Decisions onthe application are made 

### in consultation withthe U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of competitive factors. As this matter is nowpending, 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 ournormal 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 yourinterest in thisproceeding.

usan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

### S 1 0-1 00329-004

H 0 USE 0 F REPRES E N T ATI 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 applicationfor antitrust immunity and proposedjoint 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 airtravel betweentheUnited States and other countries. The proposed joint business agreement between American and JAL. members of the Oneworld Alliance, serves these purposes. Members ofthe 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 ofthe 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

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