CITY OF HousTON Annise D. Parker 

HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM 

George Bush Intercontinental- William P. Hobby- Ellington Airport 

January 3, 2014 

By Electronic Filing 

Ms. Barbara Hairston 

DOT Supervisory Dockets Officer 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Mayor 

Mario C. Diaz 

Director of Aviation 

RE: Application of Air China Limited d/b/a Air China for renewal of exemption 

authority pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109, docket DOT-OST-2013-0001 

Dear Ms. Hairston: 

The City of Houston ("Houston") respectfully submits this letter in support of Air China's 

application to renew its exemption authority to operate combination services between Houston and 

Beijing. Houston strongly supports Air China's application (as well as its pending application in 

docket DOT-OST-2013-0049 for a corresponding amendment to its foreign air carrier permit), and 

respectfully requests prompt grant of the authority requested. 

Houston for many years was the largest U.S. city without nonstop service to China- a service gap 

that limited the ability of the City as well as businesses based in the greater Houston area to 

maximize trade and growth with one of the world's most important economies. As a result, Houston 

enthusiastically welcomed Air China's start-up of nonstop Houston-Beijing service last year, and 

looks forward to its continuing service, which we hope will be increased from four flights weekly to 

daily service later this year. 

Air China's Houston-Beijing flights represent a significant step in enhancing the City's global 

transportation network. Even before Air China's start-up, China was Houston's fifth-largest 

international trade partner, with annual trade valued at nearly $12.9 billion. The growth continues, 

with annual trade increasing by 1.4% from October 2012 to October 2013. More than 900 Houston 

companies engage in business or have trade ties with China, and by October 2013 - shortly after Air 

China's services had begun- Houston was ranked as China's 12th-largest U.S. gateway for air cargo 

Council Members: Wanda Adams C.O. "Brad" Bradford Helena Brown Andrew C. Burks, Jr. Jack Christie Ellen R. Cohen Stephen C. Costello Jerry Davis Edward 

Gonzalez Larry V. Green AI Hoang Mike Laster Melissa Noriega Oliver Pennington James G. Rodriguez Dave Martin 

Controller: Ronald C. Green 

Mario C. Diaz PO Box 60106, Houston, Texas 77205-0106- Phone: 281 233-1877- Fax: 281 233-1864 

www.Fly2Houston.com. - www.houstontx.gov 
Ms. Barbara Hairston Page2 January 3, 2014 

US Department of Transportation 

(by weight, 14th by value). Air China's nonstop services help further these important ties- for 

example, in September 2013 the Greater Houston Partnership sponsored a trade mission of business 

leaders to Beijing, Shanghai, and Xiamen. Houston anticipates that with the improved access to 

Chinese markets made possible by Air China's soon-to-be-daily services, the travel and trade 

between Houston and China will continue to grow, with benefits not only for the greater Houston 

area but for communities throughout the south central United States. 

Because of the wide-ranging benefits of Air China's services to our community, Houston 

respectfully requests prompt approval of the authority sought. 

Sincerely, 

~~~ cc: Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker 

george.tompkinsjr@wilsonelsner.com (Air China) 

francis.heil@aa.com and robert.wirick@aa.com (American Airlines) 

rpommer@atlasair.com (Atlas Air) 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com and sametta.c.barnett@delta.com (Delta Airlines) 

ranjit.seth@evergreenairlines.com and charters@evergreenairlines.com (Evergreen 

International Airlines) 

cefelts@fedex.com, nssparks@fedex.com, gbleopard@fedex.com, 

sharon.pasley@fedex.com, and sllunsford@fedex.com (Federal Express) 

jhill@dowlohnes.com (Counsel for Hawaiian Airlines) 

matwood@cozen.com (Counsel for Kalitta Air) 

kevin.montgomery@polaraircargo .com and peter. beckett@polaraircargo .com 

(Polar Air Cargo) 

hershel.kamen@united.com, dan.weiss@united.com, steve.morrissey@united.com, 

karine.faden@united.com, thomas.bolling@united.com, 

james.conneely@united.com, and doug.kelley@united.com (United Airlines) 

lhalloway@crowell.com and gmurphy@crowell.com (Counsel for United) 

dsmalls@ups.com (UPS) 

anita.mosner@hklaw.com and jennifer.nowak@hklaw.com (Counsel for UPS) 

howard.kass@usairways.com and benjamin.slocum@usairways.com (US Airways) 

mlbenge@zsrlaw.com (Counsel for World Airways) 

john.allen@faa.gov and john.s.duncan@faa.gov (FAA) 

esta.rosenberg@dot. gov and barbara.hairston@dot. gov (DOT) 

urskr@state.gov and dobrescudm@state.gov (State Department) 

dwight.moore@ustranscom.mil and ronald. williams@ustranscom.mil 

(USTRANSCOM) 

info@airlineinfo.com 

rbtrinder@zsrlaw.com (Counsel for the City of Houston) 

Council Members: Wanda Adams C.O. "Brad" Bradford Helena Brown Andrew C. Burks, Jr. Jack Christie Ellen R. Cohen Stephen C. Costello Jerry Davis Edward 

Gonzalez Larry V. Green AI Hoang Mike Laster Melissa Noriega Oliver Pennington James G. Rodriguez Dave Martin 

Controller: Ronald C. Green 

Mario C. Diaz PO Box 60106, Houston, Texas 77205-0106 - Phone: 281 233-1877 - Fax: 281 233-1864 

www.Fly2Houston.com. - www.houstontx.gov