BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_____________________________________ Application of )

)

AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC. )

)

for an exemption ) Docket DOT

- OST

- 201 5

____ pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 )

( Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas )

– San Luis Potosi , Mexico ) )

)

_____________________________________ )

APPLICATION OF AMERICAN AIRLINES , INC.

FOR AN EXEMPTION

( Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

– San Luis Potosi , Mexico )

Communications with respect t o this document should be addressed to:

Howard Kass

Vice President

– Regulatory Affairs

Robert A. Wirick,

Managing Director, Regulatory and International Affairs

Abigail Donovan

Director, Congressional and Fed eral Affairs

American Airlines , Inc.

1101 1 7 th Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 326

- 5153

howard.kass@ aa .com

robert.wirick@aa.com

abigail.donovan@aa.com

February 2 5 , 20 1 5

NOTICE: American Airlines plans to poll on this application and therefore request s

that any parties wishing to support o r oppose this application notify

American Airlines immediately

.2 BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_____________________________________ Application of )

)

AMERICAN AIRLINES , INC. )

)

for an exempt ion ) Docket DOT

- OST

- 201 5

-

____ pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 )

( Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas ) February 2 5 , 2015

– San Luis Potosi , Mexico ) )

_____________________________________ )

APPLICATION OF AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.

FOR AN EXEMPTION

( Dallas /Ft. Worth, Texas

– San Luis Potosi , Mexico)

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 and Subpar t C of the Department of

Transportation’s (“Department”) Rules of Practice (14 C.F.R. Part 302)

, American

Airlines , Inc. (“ American Airlines ”) applies for exemption autho rity to engage in

scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between Dallas, Ft.

Worth/Texas (“ DFW ”) and San Luis Potosi , Mexico (“ SLP ”) pursuant to a codesharing

arrangement with Mesa Airlines, Inc. (“Mesa”)

.

American Airlines requests expedited processing of this application so that it can

begin seeking necessary regulatory approvals from the Mexican authorities as soon as

possible.

In support of this application, American Airlines respectfully states as follows:

1. American Airl ines is a Delaware corporation with its principal office at

4333 Amon Carter Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76155

.

2. The services proposed in this application will serve the public interest by

enabling American Airlines to offer consumers enhanced U.S.

- Mexico services whileApplication of American Airlines for an Exemption

( Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

– San Luis Potosi , Mexico )

3 supporting commerce and providing substantial competition to other carriers serving

Mexico from the United States.

3. In order to initiate this scheduled air service, American Airlines requests

an exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41 101 permitting it to engage in schedule d foreign air

transportation of persons, property, and mail between Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

, and San

Luis Potosi , Mexico pursuant to a codeshar e arrangement with Mesa

.

4. American Airlines is a citizen of the United States within the m eaning of 49

U.S.C. § 40102(a)(15)(C) and is fit, willing, and able to provide the services

contemplated by this application. American Airlines holds various certificates of public

convenience and exemption authorities. ( See

, e.g. , DOT Order 2007

- 4

- 2, Ap ril 3, 2007,

Dockets OST

- 2000

- 8516 and OST

- 2005

- 22228 (Blanket Open

- Skies Route Authority );

Notice of Action Taken, October 7, 2014 , Docket DOT

- OST

- 20 1 4

- 0169 ( Dallas/Ft.

Worth , Texas

- Beijing , People’s Republic of China )

. ) Pursuant to Rule 24 of the

Depa rtment’s Rules of Practice, American Airlines requests that the Department take

official notice of all information p reviously filed to establish it s fitness

.

5. American Airlines will provide service pursuant to a codeshare

arrangement whereby American Airli nes will place its code on flights operated by Mesa

in the DFW to SLP market

. 1

6. American Airlines ’ Application is consistent with the 1960 Air Transport

Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the

Government of the United Mexi can States, as amended by the Memorandum of

1 Mesa intends to operate sche duled air service in the DFW

- SLP market using regional jet aircraft operating under

the “American Eagle” brand.Application of American Airlines for an Exemption

( Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

– San Luis Potosi , Mexico )

4 Consultations signed on September 21, 2005 (“Air Service Agreement”). Under the

terms of the Air Service Arrangement , “any designated airline of one Party may enter

into cooperative marketing arrangements with an airline or airlines of either Party”,

provided that either the United States or Mexico may “grant such authorization to no

more than ten of its airlines for each non

- st op gateway city pair segment” (Air Service

Agreement, Annex III, Paragraphs 1 and 3)

. In November 2014, the U.S. and Mexican

governments successfully negotiated and initialed an amended Air Transport

Agreement that will include, among other provisions, open third and fourth freedom

rights for passenger airlines. American applauds the eff orts on the part of both

governments and recognizes that the agreement is scheduled to enter into force on

January 1, 2016, after both Parties have completed the necessary internal processes.

The new agreement, once entered into force, will expand opportu nities for each Party.

Nevertheless, American’s request for authority for this route is consistent with the

existing U.S.

- Mexico aviation agreement currently in place. To the best of American

Airlines’ knowledge, the DFW

- SLP route is not fully subscribed with ten codeshare

authorizations granted by the Department.

7. American Airlines states that approval of this application will have no

effect on its CRAF commitments. Furthermore, American Airlines submits that its

application raises no environmental or en ergy issues, and anticipates no difficulty in

obtaining fuel for this service.

8. American Airlines will accept and abide by all terms, limitations, and

conditions that the Department normally attaches to exemption authority for scheduledApplication of American Airlines for an Exemption

( Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

– San Luis Potosi , Mexico )

5 foreign air transp ortation. American Airlines asks that this requested authority be

granted for a n unlimited term rather than the standard two (2) years.

9. American Airlines requests the Department to use expedited procedures

to approv e the authority sought in this applicati on.

10. The requisite filing fee is enclosed.

WHEREFORE, American Airlines respectfully requests that its application for an

exemption

, as discussed herein, be granted, as well as such further relief as the

Department deems warranted for such services. Amer ican Airlines further requests that

the Department notify the Government of Mexico in writing of the designation of

American Airlines for scheduled air services at issue in this application.

Respectfully submitted,

Howard Kass

Vice President

– Regulato ry Affairs

Robert A. Wirick

Managing Director, Regulatory and

International Affairs

Abigail Donovan

Director, Congressional and Federal Affairs

American Airlines, Inc.

1101 17 th Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 326

- 5153

howard.kass@ aa .com

robert. wirick@aa.com

abigail.donovan@aa.com

February 2 5 , 201 5CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that, on February 2 5 , 2015

, a copy of the foregoing Application of

American Airlines , I nc. for an Exemption, was sent by email upon those addressees

lis ted below:

englets @state.gov (Department of State)

cristinasa@state.gov (Department of State)

paul.gretch@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

brian.hedberg@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

todd.homan@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

peter .irvine@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

laura.remo@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

brett.kruger@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

john.s.duncan@faa.gov (Federal Aviation Administration)

dan.weiss@united.com (United)

steve.morrissey@ united.com (United)

gmurphy@crowell.com (Counsel for United)

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com (Delta)

chris.walker@delta.com (Delta)

jhill@ cooley .com (Counsel for JetBlue and Hawaiian)

perkmann@ cooley .com (Counsel for JetBlue and Hawaiian)

robert.land@j etblue.com (JetBlue)

jeremy.ross@alaskaair.com (Alaska)

dheffernan@cozen.com (Counsel for Alaska)

jyoung@yklaw.com (Counsel for Spirit)

dkirstein@yklaw.com (Counsel for Spirit)

bob.kneisley@wnco.com (Southwest)

leslie.abbott@wnco.com (Southwest)

matwood@cozen.com (Counsel for Frontier)

ste phen.lachter@lachterlaw.com (Counsel for Frontier)

ethan.blank@rjet.com (Republic)

robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com (Counsel for Republic)

patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com (Counsel for Republic)

thomas.ting@sun country.com (Sun Country)

rpommer@atlasair.com (Atlas)

anita.mosner@hklaw.com (Counsel for UPS)

nssparks@fedex.com (FedEx)

kevin.montgomery@polaraircargo.com (Polar)

barbara.russell@virginamerica.com ( Virgi n America)

_ __ ____________________

Howard Kass