BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Motion of 

 DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

for dormancy waivers and seasonal service 

flexibility 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket OST-2007-28567 

 OST-2010-0285 

 OST-2007-29356 

 OST-2004-18469 

 OST-2005-20116 

 

MOTION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to: 

 

Robert J. Cortelyou 

Senior Vice President – Network Planning 

Jeffrey B. Lobl 

Managing Director – Transatlantic and Joint 

Venture Network Planning 

Andreas Renner 

Director – Pacific Network Planning 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1030 Delta Boulevard 

Atlanta, Georgia 30320 

Andrea Fischer Newman 

Senior Vice President – Government Affairs 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

Alexander Van der Bellen 

Managing Director – Government Affairs 

 & Associate General Counsel 

Jeff Morgan 

Regional Director – Government Affairs 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

(202) 842-4184 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

July 25, 2011 

 
BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Motion of 

 DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

for dormancy waivers and seasonal service 

flexibility 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket OST-2007-28567 

 OST-2010-0285 

 OST-2007-29356 

 OST-2004-18469 

 OST-2005-20116 

 

MOTION OF DELTA AIRLINES, INC. 

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”) hereby requests temporary dormancy waivers with 

respect to certain of its international frequency allocations in the above-captioned 

dockets. Delta also requests conversion of select frequencies from year-round to 

seasonal use. 

This Motion is being submitted in light of difficult market conditions, including 

continued high fuel prices. Delta is taking proactive measures now, making prudent 

adjustments to its international schedules in advance of the Winter Season, traditionally 

the weakest demand period. 

Specifically, Delta is requesting the following relief: 

• Extension of dormancy waiver for five (5) of seven (7) U.S.-China 

frequencies (Atlanta-Shanghai) from September 1, 2011 to September 1, 

2012. (Docket OST-2007-28567). (Two of seven frequencies currently 

used.) 

• Extension of start up date for seven (7) U.S.-China frequencies (TokyoGuangzhou) from October 3, 2011 to June 1, 2012. (Docket OST-2010-

0285). 

• Extension of dormancy waiver for four (4) U.S.-South Africa frequencies, 

(Atlanta-Cape Town via Dakar), from August 31, 2011 to August 31, 

2012. (Docket OST-2007-29356). 

• Conversion of one (1) of five (5) U.S.-China frequencies (Detroit-Beijing) 

from year-round to seasonal service, effective September 1, 2011. 

(Docket OST-2010-0285) 
Motion of Delta 

Page 2 

• Conversion of three (3) of seven (7) U.S.-China frequencies (SeattleBeijing) from year-round to seasonal service, effective September 1, 

2011. (Docket OST-2004-18469) 

• Dormancy waiver for one (1) of five (5) U.S.-Russia seasonal service 

frequencies (Atlanta-Moscow) from September 1, 2011 to September 1, 

2012. (Docket OST-2005-20116).1

 

Grant of the requested dormancy waivers and seasonal service flexibility is 

clearly in the public interest. Developing and expanding Delta’s international route 

network remains a cornerstone of Delta’s long-term business strategy. However, in the 

face of difficult economic conditions, it is imperative that Delta have the flexibility to 

adjust its services in line with market conditions.

The relief sought by Delta is fully consistent with the dormancy waiver relief 

and/or seasonal flexibility previously granted to every other major U.S. international 

carrier.2

 

Accordingly, the Department should grant this motion and the specific relief 

specified above. 

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________ 

Alexander Van der Bellen 

Managing Director, Government Affairs 

 & Associate General Counsel 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

 

1 Delta previously held seven U.S.-Russia frequencies for Atlanta-Moscow service but two of 

those frequencies have reverted to the Department due to dormancy. Delta now holds five U.S.-

Russia frequencies for Atlanta-Moscow service, all of which are authorized for seasonal use. 

However, Delta has recently been using only four of these frequencies. The dormancy relief 

requested for the fifth frequency would permit Delta to resume service with the fifth frequency 

next year, if market conditions permit. 

2

See, Department action dated July 3, 2008 (approving US Airways’ request to defer the start 

date of its Philadelphia-Beijing service), Department action dated August 13, 2008 converting four 

of Continental’s 14 U.S.-China frequencies from year-round to seasonal use; Department action 

dated September 16, 2008 (authorizing American Airlines to defer the start-up date of its 

Chicago-Beijing service); Department action dated September 29, 2010 converting four of 

American’s U.S.-China frequencies from year-round to seasonal use; and Department action 

dated July 8, 2011 (authorizing United to defer until June 30, 2012 start-up of its San FranciscoGuangzhou service), in Docket DOT-OST-2007-28567. 
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

 A copy of the foregoing Motion has been served this 25th day of July, 2011, upon the 

following persons via email: 

carl.nelson@aa.com 

dan.weiss@coair.com 

thomas.bolling@united.com 

howard.kass@usairways.com 

benjamin.slocum@usairways.com 

jhill@dowlohnes.com 

slewis@iblf.com 

keith.glatz@dot.gov 

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov 

urskr@state.gov 

info@airlineinfo.com