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

of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary APR 0 2 2010 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Ardell F. Brede 

Mayor ofRochester 

Rochester,MN 55904 

Dear Mayor Brede: 

Thank you fot yOur letter of March 12 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by 

American Ai:rlinesand Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalf of Secretary LaHood. 

As you may kno'W, 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 of Transportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

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

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary 


for Aviation and International Mfairs 

S 10-100322-030 


Mayor Ardell F. Brede 


201 4th Street SE - Room 281 


Rochester. MN 55904-3782 


Phone: (507) 328-2700 Fax: (507) 328-2727 


March 12,2010 

.

f,,)ill 

abiede@rochestennn.gov 

... 1. ' 

; It: '.. -:; : .' I 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department ofTransportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Docket DOT-OST-2010-" 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

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 alJiance between these two airline.s is vital for ooeworld to 

compete effectively with the Star and SkyTeam alliance. This increased interalliance 

competition will in tum enhance the benefits ofthe Department's Open Skies policyfirst by solidifying U.S Aapan Open Skies. then by serVing as a foundation for further 

liberalization across Asia. . 

After a thorough review, I encourage the Department ofTransportation to approve this 

application as it would enable these ooeworld alliance airlines to work closely together to 

deliver highly competitive air transportation services. Approval for AA/J AL alliance will 

have a positive impact on air travel by offering customers more service, scheduling and 

pricing options and will help to ensure that customers continue to benefit from having 

three competitive air alliances to choose from. 

I urge you to quickly approve this application. 

Sincerely, 

Atll*t1F-AttdC .. 

Ardell F. Brede, Mayor 

City ofRochester 

2014th ST SE 

R()chester, MN 55904 

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