BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

for renewal of an exemption (Atlanta-Quito/Guayaquil, Ecuador) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Docket DOT-OST-2006-23526

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

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

September 22, 2011BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

for renewal of an exemption (Atlanta-Quito/Guayaquil, Ecuador) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Docket DOT-OST-2006-23526

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”), pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 377, hereby requests

renewal of its exemption under 49 § U.S.C. 40109 to provide scheduled foreign air

transportation of persons, property, and mail between Atlanta, Georgia, on the one hand,

and Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador, on the other hand.

Delta's exemption for this route was initially granted by Notice of Action Taken

dated February 7, 2006. Delta’s exemption is set to expire on December 10, 2011.

Delta requests prompt renewal of its exemption authority, which will facilitate Delta’s

renewal of its operating authority from the Ecuadorian government. Delta’s renewed

exemption should remain in effect for an additional period of at least two years, or until

90 days after the Department's final determination on Delta's U.S.-Ecuador certificate

application encompassing its Atlanta-Ecuador routes, whichever occurs earlier.

Pursuant to the exemption authority that is the subject of this renewal application

and an allocation of fourteen weekly U.S.-Ecuador frequencies, Delta serves the AtlantaQuito and Atlanta-Guayaquil routes. Delta continues to be fully qualified to perform

these services and further requests that the Department take official notice, pursuant to

Rule 24 of the Department's Rules of Practice, of all data on file with the Department

necessary to establish Delta's fitness.Renewal Application of Delta Page 2

The relief requested by Delta is in the public interest for the same reasons that

supported the original issuance of authority for Ecuador service. Delta’s Ecuador

service continues to be consistent with the U.S.-Ecuador air transport agreement.

In filing this application, Delta invokes the automatic extension provisions of the

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 558 (c), as implemented by 14 C.F.R. Part 377.

Delta’s renewal application is timely filed under this Part.

WHEREFORE, Delta Air Lines, Inc. respectfully requests renewal of its

its exemption under 49 § U.S.C. 40109 to provide scheduled foreign air transportation of

persons, property, and mail between Atlanta, Georgia, on the one hand, and Quito and

Guayaquil, Ecuador, on the other hand.

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________ Alexander Van der Bellen Managing Director, Government Affairs & Associate General Counsel DELTA AIR LINES, INC.CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

A copy of the foregoing Renewal Application has been served this 22nd day of September, 2011, upon the following persons via email:

carl.nelson@aa.com
dan.weiss@coair.com thomas.bolling@united.com jyoung@yklaw.com dkirstein@yklaw.com benjamin.slocum@usairways.com howard_kass@usairways.com
info@airlineinfo.com esta.rosenberg@dot.gov brian.hedberg@dot.gov