TRANSPORTATION 

U.S. Department Assistant Secretary nC}Cf<FTS 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation 

Office of the Secretory March 25. 2010 .. . ,< ,j, 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Otis S. Johnson, Ph.D. 


Mayor of Savannah 


Savannah, GA 31402 


Dear Mayor Johnson: 

Thank you for yourletter 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 ofthe 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 a joint 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.ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review of the record to 

determine if it is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation 

with the U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of 

competitive factors. As this matter is now pending, I hope you understand that I cannot 

comment on the merits of the 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-201O"-as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. 

Sincerely yours, 

//. 

Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary 


for Aviation and International Affairs 

S 1 0-1 00304-026 


Otis S. Johnson, Mayor 

February 23,2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

United States Department ofTransportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

Thank you for the opportunity to express my 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 tum enhance the benefits of the 

Department's Open Skies policy - first by solidifying U.S. - Japan Open Skies, then by serving as a 

foundation for further liberalization across Asia. 

After a thorough review, I encourage the Department of Transportation to·approve this application as it 

would enable these oneworld alliance airlines to work closely together to deliver highly competitive air 

transportation services. Approval for AAlJAL alliance will have a positive impact on air travel by 

offering customers more service.. scheduling and pricing options and wiJI help to ensure that customers 

continue to benefit from the competition afforded by three competitive air alliances. 

I urge youto"qtdclClyapprove this application. 

Sincerely, 

Mayor

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ojohnson@savannahga~gov • P.O. Box 1027 • Savannah, Georgia 31402 -(912) 6S1~6444 • Fax (912) 651·6805