Q 

i' .• " 

U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE of Transportation Washington, DC 20590 

Office of the Secretary April 14, 2010 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Mark Stodola 

Mayor ofLittle Rock 

Little Rock, AR 72201 

'I 

Dear Mayor Stodola: 

Thank you for your lett~r of March 4 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by 

American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalf ofSecretary 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 ina public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the 

opportunity to comment. The U.S. DepartIIlent of Transportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

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

determine ifit 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 ofthe 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-2010-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary 

for Aviation and International Affairs 
c 

SlO-l 003 15-045 

.C?lty of little.floCk 

Mark Stodola City HaJl, .Aoom 203 Mayor 500 W•.Markham 

Ul1Ie Rock, Arkansas 72201.1427 

Phon t) 371-4510 

F 1)371-4496 

wwwJittlerook.org 

Marth 4, 2010 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department ofTransportation 

.1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Wasbington, DC 20590 

oot;ket DOT·OST·2010~ 

D~ar Mr. Secretary: 

Thank you for the opportunity to express my support for the application for antitrust Immunity and 

prOposed joint business agreement flied by American Airlines ang)agim Airlines. The proposed alliance 

be.tween these two airlines is vital for the oneworld allianceto compete effectively with the Star and 

SkyTeam alliances. This increased ailia~omptirnl8fl wlfr1n~tl.irn~·enhance the benefits of the 

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

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 ANJAl alliance will have a positive impact on air travel by offering 

~ustomers more servite, scheduling and pricing options and will help to ensure that customers continue 

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

Sincerely, 

j~ l 

Mark Stodola 

Mayor 

[urge you to quickly approve this application. 

I......