q 

U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

of Transportation Washington, DC 20590 

Office of the Secretary March 25, 2010 

of Transportation 

Mr. Gene N. Olson 


Director of Airports 


Metropolitan Airport Authority 


6100 W. Everett McKinley Dirksen Parkway 


Peoria, IL 61607 


Dear Mr. Olson: 

Thank you for your letter of February 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 of the oneworld 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 ajoint 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 onthe 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 of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT~OST~20 10-_as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. 

Sincerely yours, 

,A1~tJ Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary 


for Aviation and International Affairs 

cq 

S10-100302-048 


'U9 

METROPOLITAN 

AIRPORT 

6100 W. Everett McKinley Dirksen Parkway 

Peoria. lIIinois 61607 

AUTHORITY Phone: (309) 697-8272 

OF PEORIA Fax; (309) 697-8J32 

www.flypia.com ,.,-.~ 

February 23, 2010 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary .. 

U.S. Depaltment'OfTransportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Doc::ket DOT"OST"2010--' 

Dear Mr. Sec!etary: 


The Metropolitan Airport Authority ofPeoria would like to express its support for the 


application for antitrust immunity and proposed joint business agreement filed by 


. American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The proposed alliance between these two airlines 


is vital for the oneworld alliance to compete effectively with the Star and SkyTeam 


alliances. This increased alliance competition will in turn enhance the benefits ofthe 


Depru1menes Open Skies policy - first by solidifying U.S. - Japan Open Skies, then by 


serving as a foundation for further liberalization across Asia. In addition, this alliance 


will benefit Central Illinois by providing additional travel options in the Far East for 


Herut of lllinois businesses. 


We encourage the Department of Transportation to approve this app~ication as it would 


enable these oneworld alliance airlines to work closely together to deliver highly 


competitive air transportation services. Approval for AAiJAL alliance will have a 


positive impact on air travel by offering customers more service, scheduling and pricing 


options and will help to ensure that customers continue to benefit from the competition 


afforded by three competitive air alliances. 


We urge you to quickly approve this application. Please contact me if you have any 


questions or need additional information. 


Sincerely, 


Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria 


.-J{~~ Gene N. Olson 

Director ofAirports 

golson@flypia.com