BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.; 

 and 

AEROVIAS DE MEXICO, S.A. de C.V.

for an exemption pursuant to

49 U.S.C. § 40109 and 

for a statement of authorization

under 14 C.F.R. Part 212

(Atlanta-Leon)

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Docket DOT-OST-2013-0115 

Docket DOT-OST-1997-3289

Docket DOT-OST-2000-7708

JOINT APPLICATION OF

DELTA AIR LINES, INC., and

AEROVIAS de MEXICO, S.A. de C.V.

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

John R. Mietus, Jr.

LAW OFFICE OF JOHN MIETUS, LLC

6701 Democracy Boulevard Ste 300

Bethesda, Maryland 20817

(202) 747-5212

john@mietuslaw.com

Counsel for 

AEROVIAS de MEXICO, S.A. de C.V. 

Alexander Van der Bellen

Managing Director – Regulatory and International 

Affairs & Associate General Counsel

Christopher Walker

Regional Director – Regulatory and International 

Affairs

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 842-4184

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

chris.walker@delta.com

April 23, 2015

Notice: Delta intends to poll the U.S. carrier representatives on the attached service list 

regarding this Application and will notify the Department of the results as soon as 

possible.
BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.; 

 and 

AEROVIAS DE MEXICO, S.A. de C.V.

for an exemption pursuant to

49 U.S.C. § 40109 and 

for a statement of authorization

under 14 C.F.R. Part 212

(Atlanta-Leon)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0115 

Docket DOT-OST-1997-3289

Docket DOT-OST-2000-7708

JOINT APPLICATION OF

DELTA AIR LINES, INC., and

AEROVIAS de MEXICO, S.A. de C.V.

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 and Subpart C of the Department’s Rules of 

Practice, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”) hereby applies for an amended exemption from 

49 U.S.C. § 41101 authorizing Delta to engage in own-metal scheduled foreign air 

transportation of persons, property, and mail between Atlanta (ATL) and 

Leon/Guanajuato, Mexico (BJX). Delta seeks a statement of authorization to carry the 

code of Aerovias de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“Aeromexico”) code on this route. 

Starting December 19, 2015, Delta would like to increase capacity on this route, 

which it already serves in conjunction with its Delta Connection partner, ExpressJet 

Airlines (“ExpressJet”). Delta plans to utilize 126-seat Airbus A319 aircraft, equipped 

with 12 first class, 18 economy comfort class, and 96 economy class seats. 

In support of this Joint Application, Delta and Aeromexico state as follows:

1. The Joint Applicants request the issuance of the following authorities:

a) an amended exemption to Delta, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109, 

authorizing Delta to engage in scheduled, own-metal foreign air 
Joint Application

Page 2

transportation of persons, property and mail on the Atlanta-Leon 

route, granted as soon as possible for a period of at least two years;

and

b) a statement of authorization to Delta, pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 

212, to permit Delta to display Aeromexico’s “AM*” designator code 

on flights operated by Delta on the Atlanta-Leon route.

1

2. The proposed service will provide significant benefits to travelers and 

shippers and is clearly in the public interest. The requested exemption authority is fully 

consistent with the terms of the U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement (“Agreement”) as 

amended by the agreement signed by the two governments on December 12, 2005. 

Route 1(a) of the Agreement authorizes carriers designated by the U.S. to operate 

“[f]rom a point or points in the United States to a point or points in Mexico.” Annex 

I(A)(1)(a). Two U.S. carrier designations are authorized for the Atlanta-Leon route. 

Agreement Annex I(B)(4-5). The Atlanta-Leon route has one designation available, with 

one already awarded ExpressJet. Delta’s daily mainline service will compliment 

ExpressJet’s service December 19, 2015. Delta requests that the Department promptly 

notify the Government of Mexico of Delta’s designation on this route.

3. Aeromexico is a flag carrier of the United Mexican States and holds a 

foreign air carrier permit, Order 91-5-25, and exemptions authorizing service between 

Mexico and numerous U.S. points. Order 91-5-25. Pursuant to this authority, 

Aeromexico provides extensive service between Mexico and the United States.

4. Delta holds various certificates of public convenience and necessity and 

exemptions authorizing it to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, 

property and mail, including between the United States and Mexico. See, e.g., Delta’s 

Certificate for Route 901, issued by Order 2010-3-12. Pursuant to Rule 24 of the 

1 Aeromexico currently holds exemption authority to place its “AM*” code on Delta own-metal 

flights in the market, as granted by NOAT issued July 25, 2014 in DOT-OST-2013-0115.

 
Joint Application

Page 3

Department’s Rules of Practice, Delta asks the Department to take official notice of all 

data on file with the Department necessary to establish Delta’s fitness.

5. The Joint Applicants plan to introduce the proposed codeshare services

upon receipt of all necessary DOT and Mexico DGAC approvals, and request that the 

exemptions and statement of authorization are granted as soon as possible so that Delta 

and Aeromexico can market these services without delay.2 Delta requests that its 

codesharing statement of authorization remain in effect indefinitely, consistent with the 

duration of the U.S.-Mexico codeshare authorities granted by DOT Order 99-6-6.

6. The proposed codeshare services will be operated pursuant to the 

existing Delta/Aeromexico codeshare agreement previously approved by the 

Department.

7. Approval of the requested codeshare authorities is in the public interest 

and will provide important additional service and competitive options to U.S.-Mexico 

travelers and shippers. Authorizing Delta to carry Aeromexico’s code on this additional, 

transborder route will enhance competition and expand price and service options for 

U.S.-Mexico travelers.

8. Approval of the statement of authorization is consistent with the U.S.-

Mexico Air Transport Services Agreement, including the amendment that was signed on 

December 12, 2005. The Department has granted multiple similar U.S.-Mexico 

transborder codesharing requests, finding that the exercise of such codeshare rights “will 

benefit travelers, shippers, businesses, cities, airlines, and airports.” DOT Order 99-6-6, 

at 6. 

9. The Joint Applicants will conduct these codeshare services in accordance 

with 14 C.F.R. Part 257 and the other conditions normally imposed by the Department 

on codesharing statements of authorization.

2 To the extent necessary, the Joint Applicants request a waiver of the 45-day advance filing 

requirement for codeshare statements of authorization under 14 C.F.R. Part 212. 

 
Joint Application

Page 4

10. Delta affirms that its operation of these routes will have no impact on 

Delta’s Civil Reserve Air Fleet (“CRAF”) commitment.

11. The environmental impacts of Delta’s proposed services are de minimis, 

and Delta does not anticipate that the proposed services will cause a near-term net 

annual change in aircraft fuel consumption of 10 million gallons or more. 

WHEREFORE, Delta requests issuance of amended exemption authority and a 

statement of authorization to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, 

property, and mail on the Atlanta-Leon route. 

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ John R. Mietus, Jr. /s/ 

_______________________ _____________________

John R. Mietus, Jr.

Law Office of John Mietus, LLC

Counsel for

For AEROVIAS de MEXICO, S.A. de C.V. 

Alexander Van der Bellen

Managing Director, Regulatory and 

International Affairs & Associate General 

Counsel

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

A copy of the foregoing Application has been served this 23rd day of April, 2015, 

upon the following persons via email:

Air Carrier Name Email Address

Alaska Airlines David Heffernan dheffernan@cozen.com

Alaska Airlines Jeremy Ross jeremy.ross@alaskaair.com

American Howard Kass howard.kass@aa.com

American Robert Wirick robert.wirick@aa.com

Frontier Mark Atwood matwood@cozen.com

Frontier Steve Lachter slachter@cozen.com

Hawaiian/JetBlue Jonathan Hill jhill@cooley.com

Hawaiian/JetBlue Parker Erkmann perkmann@cooley.com

JetBlue Robert Land robert.land@jetblue.com

Republic Bob Cohn robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com

Republic Pat Rizzi patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com

Southwest/AirTran Bob Kneisley bob.kneisley@wnco.com

Southwest/AirTran Leslie Abbott leslie.abbott@wnco.com

Spirit Airlines David Kirstein dkirstein@yklaw.com

Spirit Airlines Joanne Young jyoung@yklaw.com

Sun Country John Fredericksen john.fredericksen@suncountry.com

Sun Country Thomas Ting thomas.ting@suncountry.com

United Dan Weiss dan.weiss@united.com

United Thomas Bolling thomas.bolling@united.com

Virgin America John Varley john.varley@virginamerica.com

Brian Hedberg brian.hedberg@dot.gov

Robert Finamore robert.finamore@dot.gov

Brett Kruger brett.kruger@dot.gov

Reese Davidson reese.davidson@dot.gov

Info info@airlineinfo.com