BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

__________________________________________ 

 ) 

Application of ) 

 ) 

Aerovías de Integración Regional (AIRES S.A.) ) Docket No. OST-2008-0390 

For renewal of exemption pursuant ) 

to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 ) 

 ) 

 (Colombia – U.S.) ) 

__________________________________________)

APPLICATION OF AEROVÍAS DE INTEGRACIÓN REGIONAL

FOR A RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to: 

Josh Romanow 

Dania Slim 

PILLSBURY WINTHROP 

SHAW PITTMAN LLP 

2300 N Street, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20037 

Tel: (202) 663-8000 

Fax: (202) 663-8007 

E-mail: romanow@pillsburylaw.com 

 dania.slim@pillsburylaw.com 

 

Counsel for AEROVÍAS DE INTEGRACIÓN 

REGIONAL (AIRES) 

November 9, 2010 

NOTE: Any person may support or oppose this Application by filing an answer and serving a 

copy of the answer on counsel for AIRES and upon each person served with this application. 

Answers to the exemption application are due by November 24, 2010. 
BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

__________________________________________ 

 ) 

Application of ) 

 ) 

Aerovías de Integración Regional (AIRES S.A.) ) Docket No. OST-2008-0390 

For renewal of exemption pursuant ) 

to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 ) 

 ) 

 (Colombia – U.S.) ) 

__________________________________________)

APPLICATION OF AEROVÍAS DE INTEGRACIÓN REGIONAL

FOR A RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY

Aerovías de Integración Regional, AIRES S.A. (“AIRES”), a foreign air carrier of 

Colombia, hereby applies, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109, Subpart C of the Department’s Rules 

of Practice, (14 C.F.R. § 302.301, et. seq.), 14 C.F.R. § 377, and the Department’s streamlined 

licensing procedures,1 for a renewal of its existing exemption authorizing AIRES to engage in 

the scheduled transportation of persons, property, and mail, between Bogotá, Cartagena, Cali, 

and Barranquilla in Colombia, on the one hand, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida on the other hand.2

 

AIRES requests that the renewed exemption remain in effect for a period of two years. 

The renewed exemption sought herein will enable AIRES to continue to provide 

increased travel choices, greater service options, and enhanced competition, thereby benefiting 

consumers in both Colombia and the United States. In support of this application, AIRES states 

the following: 

 

1

 Notice in Docket OST-2005-22228 (Aug. 23, 2005). 

2

 AIRES’ exemption authority also permits it to coterminalize Fort Lauderdale and New York for its services for 

Bogota, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. 
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

 

By Notice of Action Taken (November 24, 2009), the Department granted AIRES 

exemption authority to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, 

property, and mail between Bogotá, Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Cali in Colombia, 

on the one hand, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida on the other hand.3

AIRES will continue to operate these flights using a Boeing 737-700 aircraft. AIRES 

operates 7 flights per week in the Bogotá-FLL market; 7 flights per week in the 

Cartagena-FLL market; 7 flights per week in the Barranquilla-FLL market; and 4 

flights per week in the Cali-FLL market. 

AIRES invokes and relies upon the provisions of Section 558(c) of the Administrative 

Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 558(c)), as implemented by Part 377 of the Department’s 

Special Regulations, to continue in effect its existing exemption authority pending 

final Department action on this renewal application. AIRES’ exemption will expire 

on November 24, 2010 absent this renewal application, which is timely filed under 14 

C.F.R. 377.10(c). 

A copy of the airline’s Air Operator’s Certificate is incorporated by reference from its 

December 18, 2008 application. See Docket OST-2008-0390. 

The authority requested herein is consistent with the overall comity and reciprocity 

between the United States and Colombia. This service benefits travelers in both the 

3

 AIRES also holds a foreign air carrier permit to permit it to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation 

of persons, property and mail between Bogota, Cartagena and Barranquilla, Colombia, on the one hand, and New 

York (JFK), New York, on the other hand, and authority to engage in charter trips in foreign air transportation, 

subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the Department’s regulations governing charters. See Order 2009-

6-14. 
United States and Colombia by providing additional scheduled travel opportunities in 

these markets, and therefore, serves the public interest. 

6.

7.

The operations proposed by AIRES will not result in a near term increase in fuel 

consumption of ten million gallons or more. Consequently, grant of the authority 

requested herein will not constitute a “major regulatory action” under the Energy 

Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as defined in 14 C.F.R § 313.4 (a)(1). 

Verification: The verification required by 14 C.F.R § 302.4(b) is attached hereto as 

Exhibit A. 

WHEREFORE, based on the foregoing, AIRES respectfully requests that the Department 

renew, for a period of two years, its existing exemption authority as described herein. 

November 9, 2010 

Respectfully submitted, 

______________________ 

Josh Romanow 

Dania Slim 

PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP 

2300 N Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20037 

Phone: (202) 663-8000 

Fax: (202) 663-8007 

Email: romanow@pillsburylaw.com 

 dania.slim@pillsburylaw.com 

 

Counsel for AEROVÍAS DE INTEGRACIÓN 

REGIONAL (AIRES) 

EXHIBIT A

VERIFICATION