# 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 ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Ave, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590 

### Mayor

Mario C. Diaz Director ofAviation

RE: Application ofAir China Limited d/b/a Air China for renewal ofexemption authority pursuant to 49 U.S.C. §40109, docket DOT-OST-2013-0001 Dear Ms. Hairston: The City ofHouston ("Houston") respectfully submits this letter in support ofAir 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 amendmentto its foreign air carrier permit), and respectfully requests prompt grant ofthe authority requested. Houston for many years was the largest U.S. city without nonstop service to China- a service gap that limited the ability ofthe City as well as businesses based inthe greater Houston area to maximize trade and growth with one ofthe world's most important economies. As a result, Houston enthusiastically welcomed Air China's start-up ofnonstop 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 MelissaNoriega 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.govMs. Barbara Hairston Page2 January 3, 2014 US Department ofTransportation (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 ofbusiness 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 ofthe wide-ranging benefits ofAir China's services to our community, Houston respectfully requests prompt approval ofthe 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 ofHouston)

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