Order 20 1 2

- 4

- 14

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 11 th day of April , 201 2

Serv ed: April 11 , 20 1 2

Application of

PREMIUM JET AG Docket DOT

- OST

- 2009

- 0351

for renewal and amendment of an exemption under 49 U.S.C. §40109 and a foreign air carrier permit under 49 U.S.C. §41301

ORDER RENEWING EXEMPTION AND TO SHOW CAUSE

Summary

By this order we (1) grant the application of the referenced foreign air carrier for r enew al and

amendment of its exemption under 49 U.S.C. §40109, subject to conditions; 1 and (2) tentatively

find that i t is in the public interest to grant the applicant a foreign air carrier permit attached as Appendix B to this order.

Background

On August 23, 2005, the Department issued a Notice, in Docket DOT

- OST

- 2005

- 22228, announcing several steps designed to streamline our regulatory procedures for licensing U.S. and foreign air carriers. Among other things, the Notice stated that:

Assuming, based on the record and on the public interest/public convenience and necessity elements germane to our licensing decisions, that we were in a position to act favorably, we would proceed to issue a single order (1) granting the exemption request for whate ver duration we would normally have imposed, or until certificate/permit authority becomes effective, whichever is shorter, and (2) tentatively deciding ( i.e. , show

- cause) to award a corresponding certificate (or permit), again for the standard duration we would normally have imposed (such as, in the case of certificates, five years for limited

- entry markets, indefinite for

open

- entry markets, and in the case of permits, five years for comity and reciprocity regimes, indefinite for agreement regimes).

1 The conditions are attached as Appendix A.2

Our action in this Order serves to implement these streamlined regulatory procedures for the application involved in this proceeding.

Application

By application filed March 9, 2012, Premium Jet AG (Premium Jet)

, a foreign air carrier of

Switzerland

, requests renewal and amendment of its e xemption authority under 49 U.S.C. §40109, and a foreign air carrier permit under 49 U.S.C. §41301, to engage in the following

services using small aircraft : 2 1) foreign charter air transportation of persons, property, and ma il from points behind Switzerland via Switzerland and intermediate points to a point or points in the United States and beyond; and 2 ) other charters pursuant to the prior approval requirements set forth in the Department’s regulations governing charters.

The applicant provided evidentiary materials required by 14 CFR Part 211 of our regulations to support its request s for authority.

No answers were filed to Premium Jet’s application

.

Decision

We have decided, under assigned authority and consistent with our August 23, 2005 Notice referenced above, to grant the applicant’s request for renewal and amendment of its exemption authority, subject to conditions, and tentatively to grant, subject to sh ow

- cause procedures, its request for a foreign air carrier permit, also subject to conditions.

With respect to the applicant’s request for renewal and amendment of its exemption authority, we find that grant of this authority is consistent with the public interest; that the applicant has demonstrated, based on the record, that it is financially and operationally qualified to perform the services authorized; 3 and that it is substa ntially owned and effectively controlled by citizens of

its claimed homeland. 4

2 Premium Jet’s curren t exemption authority, granted by Notice of Action Taken dated March 12, 2010 in the instant Docket, authorizes it to engage in charter foreign air transportation of persons and property using small aircraft (1) between any point or points in Switzerland and any point or points in the United States; and (2) between any point or points in the United States and any point or points in a third country or countries, provided that such service constitutes part of a continuous operation, with or without a change of aircraft, that includes air service to Switzerland for the purpose of carrying local traffic between Switzerland and the United States. The exemption authority also permits the carrier to conduct charters between third countries and the United States i n accordance

with 14 CFR Part 212.

3 The applicant has requested confidential treatment of its financial submissions under the provisions of

14 CFR §30 2 .12. Good cause having been shown, we will grant this request.

4 The applicant states that 79% of its shares are held by M.A.S. Holding AG, a Swiss corporation that, in turn, is wholly

- owned by two Swiss citizens, one of whom also holds an additional 10% of Premium Jet’s shares. The record indicates that the applican t’s Chief Executive Office/Vice Chairman of the Board and its other three board members are all Swiss citizens. The remaining shares of the applicant are held by the four Swiss board members, and one citizen of the United Kingdom. The applicant’s remaini ng key personnel are citizens of Germany and the United Kingdom.3

The authority sought by the applicant is encompassed by the Air Transport Agreement between

the United States and Switzerland

. Further, we note that the applicant is properly licensed by its homeland to perform the proposed services. In addition, on March 28, 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration advised us that it knew of no reason why we should act unfavorably on the applicant’s requests. We have verified the applicant’s compliance with 14 CFR Parts 203 (Warsaw liability waiver), and 205 (insur ance requirements).

We therefore find that grant of the requested exemption authority, for a two

- year term, or until the requested permit authority becomes effective, whichever occurs earlier, is warranted.

Tentative Findings and Conclusions

-- Foreign Air Carrier Permit Application

We tentatively find and conclude that the public interest warrants granting the applicant a foreign

air carrier permit, in the form attached as Appendix B to this order, and subject to the conditions

attached. 5 In particular, we tentat ively find and conclude that the factors which support our grant of exemption authority to the applicant also warrant granting the applicant the foreign air carrier permit is seeks

.

In view of the foregoing and all facts of recor d, we tentatively find and conclude that:

1. It is in the public interest to issue the applicant a foreign air carrier permit in the form

attached

, for operations with small aircraft; 6

2. The applicant is fit, willing and able properly to perform the f oreign air transportation described in the attached permit and to conform to the provisions of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, and to our rules, regulations, and requirements;

3. The applicant is substantially owned and effectively controlled by citizens of i ts claimed

homeland ;

4 . The public interest requires that the exercise of the privileges granted by the permit should be subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations contained in the attached permit, and to such other reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations required by the public interest as we may prescribe;

5 . The issuance of this foreign air carrier permit will not constitute a major regulatory action under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as defined in 14 CFR §313.4(a)(1) of our regulations; 7

6 . The public interest does not require an oral evidentiary hearing on the application; and

5 The applicant’s request for a foreign air carrier permit was summarized in the Department’s published weekly list of applications filed. This notice described the authority sought and gav e interested persons an opportunity to submit evidence and objections to the award of this foreign air carrier permit authority. As noted above, no answers to the application were filed.

6 In its application, the applicant stated that it was applying to provide the proposed services using small aircraft.

7 This finding is based on the fact that the grant of this permit will not result in a near

- term net annual change in aircraft fuel consumption of 10 million gallons or more.4

7 . Our action with respect to this foreign air carrier permit should, unless disapproved by the President of the United States under §41307 of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, become effective on the 61st day after its submission for §41307 review, or upon the date of receipt of advice from the President or his designee under Executive Order 12597 and implementing regulations that he

or she does no t intend to disapprove this portion of the Department’s decision under that section,

whichever occurs earlier

.

In view of the above, and acting under authority assigned by the Department in its regulations, 14 CFR Part 385, we find that (1) our actions ar e consistent with Department policy; and (2) with respect to the exemption authority we are conferring on the applicant, the applicant is qualified to perform those operations; and that grant of the exemption authority is consistent with the public

interes t and would not constitute a major regulatory action under the Energy Policy and

Conservation Act of 1975.

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We grant the request of Premium Jet AG for renewal and amendment of its exemption under 49 U.S.C. §40109 to permit it to engage in : 1) foreign charter air transportation of persons, property, and mail from points behind Switzerland via Switzerland and intermediate points to a point or points in the United States and beyond; and 2) other charters pursuant to the prior approval require ments set forth in the Department’s regulations governing charters;

2. In the conduct of these operations, Premium Jet AG may only use aircraft capable of carrying no more than 60 passengers and having a maximum payload capacity of no more than 18,000 pounds;

3 . The exercise of the privileges granted above is subject to compliance by Premium Jet AG with the conditions listed in Appendix A;

4. We grant the request of Premium Jet AG for confidential treatment of its traffic and financial forecasts, co nsistent with the provisions of 14 CFR §302.12;

5 . Our action granting the renewed and amended exemption authority described herein is effective immediately, for a period of two years from the issue date of this order, or until the attached permit become s effective, whichever is earlier;

6 . We may amend, modify, or revoke the exemption authority set forth herein at our discretion at any time and without hearing;

7 . To the extent not acted upon above, we dismiss the applicant’s request for exemption

au thority in this Docket (DOT

- OST

- 2009

- 0351 );

8 . With respect to the applicant’s request for a foreign air carrier permit in this proceeding, we direct all interested persons to show cause why our tentative decision on that application, set forth above, sh ould not be made final;5

9 . Any interested person objecting to the issuance of an order making final our tentative findings and conclusions with respect to the applicant’s request for a foreign air carrier permit shall, no later than twenty

- one (21) calen dar days after the date of service of this order, file with the Department and serve on the parties to this proceeding, a statement of objections specifying the part or parts of the tentative findings and conclusions objected to, together with a summary of testimony, statistical data, and concrete evidence to be relied upon in support of the objections; if objections are filed, answers to objections are due no later than seven (7) calendar days thereafter;

10 . If timely and properly supported objections ar e filed, we will give further consideration to the matters and issues raised by the objections before we take further action;

1 1 . In the event no objections are filed, all further procedural steps shall be deemed waived, and the Department will enter an o rder which will (subject to Presidential review under §41307 of Title 49 of the U.S. Code) make final our tentative findings and conclusions set forth in this order; and

1 2

. We will serve a copy of this order on Premium Jet AG

, the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C., the Federal Aviation Administration, and the U.S. Department of State.

Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of this order under the Department’s regulations, 14 CFR §385.30, may file their petitions within seven (7) days after the date of issuance of this order. Our action with respect to the applicant’s request for exemption authority under 49 U.S.C. §40109 is effective immediately, and the filing of a petition for review will not

alter such effectiveness.

By:

PAUL L. GRETCH

Director

Office of International Aviation

(SEAL)

Appendices

An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.regulations.govAppendix A

F oreign Carrier Exemption Conditions

In the conduct of the operations authorized, the foreign carrier applicant(s) shall:

(1) Not conduct any operations unless it holds a currently effective authorization from its homeland for such operations, and it has filed a copy of such authorization with the Department;

(2) Comply with all applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Adm inistration, and with all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning security, including, but not limited to, 14 CFR Parts 129, 91, and 36 and 49 CFR Part 1546 or 1550, as applicable. To assure compliance with all applicable U.S. Government requir ements concerning security, the holder shall, before commencing any new service (including charter flights) from a foreign airport that would be the holder’s last point of departure for the United States, contact its International Industry Representative ( IIR) (formerly referred to as International Principal Security Inspector) to advise the IIR of its plans and to find out whether the Transportation Security Administration has determined that security is adequate to allow such airport(s) to be served;

(3) Comply with the requirements for minimum insurance coverage contained in 14 CFR Part 205, and, prior to the commencement of any operations under this authority, file evidence of such coverage, in the form of a completed OST Form 6411, with the Federal Avi ation Administration’s Program Management Branch (AFS

- 260), Flight Standards Service (any changes to, or termination of, insurance also shall be filed with that office);

(4) Not operate aircraft under this authority unless it complies with operational saf ety requirements at least equivalent to Annex 6 of the Chicago Convention;

(5) Conform to the airworthiness and airman competency requirements of its Government for international air services;

(6) Except as specifically exempted or otherwise provided for in a Department Order, comply with the requirements of 14 CFR Part 203, concerning waiver of Warsaw Convention liability limits and defenses;

(7) Agree that operations under this authority constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity, for the purposes

of 28 U.S.C. 1605(a), but only with respect to those actions or proceedings instituted against it in any court or other tribunal in the United States that are: (a) based on its operations in international air transportation that, according to the contract of ca rriage, include a point in the United States as a point of origin, point of destination, or agreed stopping place, or for which the contract of carriage was purchased in the United States; or (b) based on a claim under any international agreement or treaty cognizable in any court or other tribunal of the United States. In this condition, the term "international air transportation" means "international transportation" as defined by the Warsaw Convention, except that all States shall be considered to be High Contracting Parties for the purpose of this definition;

(8) Except as specifically authorized by the Department, originate or terminate all flights to/from the United States in its homeland;

(9) Comply with the requirements of 14 CFR Part 217, concerning the reporting of scheduled, nonscheduled, and charter data;

(10) If charter operations are authorized, except as otherwise provided in the applicable aviation agreement, comply with the Department's rules governing charters (including 14 CFR Pa rts 212 and 380);

and

(11) Comply with such other reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations required by the public interest as may be prescribed by the Department, with all applicable orders or regulations of other U.S. agencies and courts, and with a ll applicable laws of the United States.

This authority shall not be effective during any period when the holder is not in compliance with the conditions imposed above. Moreover, this authority cannot be sold or otherwise transferred without explicit Dep artment approval under Title 49 of the U.S. Code.

12/2007A ppendix B

Issued by

Order 20 1 2

-

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C.



### -------------------------------------------------------- PERMIT TO FOREIGN AIR CARRIER



### ---------------------------------------------------------

Premium Jet AG

A Foreign Air Carrier of Switzerland

is authorized, subject to the following provisions, the provisions of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, and the orders, rules, and regulations of the Department of Transportation, to engage in:

Foreign charter air transportation of persons, property, and mail from points behind Switzerland via Switzerland and intermediate points to a point or points in the United States and beyon d

.

The holder shall also be authorized to engage in other charter trips in foreign air transportation, subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the Department’s regulations governing

charters.

In the conduct of these operations, the holder ma y only use aircraft capable of carrying no more than 60 passengers and having a maximum payload capacity of no more than 18,000 pounds.

This permit and the exercise of the privileges granted in it shall be subject to the terms,

conditions and limitations in both the order issuing this permit and the attachment to this order, and to all applicable provisions of any treaty, convention or agreement affecting international air transportation now in effect, or that may become effective during the period this pe rmit remains in effect, to which the United States and the holder’s homeland are or shall become parties.

This permit shall be effective on

__________ . Unless otherwise terminated at an earlier date pursuant to the terms of any applicable treaty, convent ion or agreement, this permit shall terminate (1) upon the dissolution or liquidation of the holder to whom it was issued; (2) upon the effective date of any treaty, convention, or agreement or amendment, which shall have the effect of eliminating the bila teral right for the service authorized by this permit from the service which may be operated by airlines designated by the Government of Switzerland (or, if the right is partially eliminated, then the authority of this permit shall terminate in like part); (3) upon the effective date of any permit granted by the Department to any other carrier designated by the

Government of Switzerland in lieu of the holder; or (4) upon the termination or expiration of the applicable air services agreement between the Unit ed States and Switzerland . However, clause ( 4 ) of this paragraph shall not apply if prior to such termination or expiration, the foreign air transportation authorized herein becomes the subject of another treaty, convention or agreement

to which the Unite d States and Switzerland become parties.The Department of Transportation has executed this permit and affixed its seal on

By:

PAUL L. GRETCH

Director

Office of International Aviation



### (SEAL)Foreign Air Carrier Permit Conditions

In the conduct of the operations authorized, the foreign carrier applicant(s) shall:

(1) Not conduct any operations unless it holds a currently effective authorization from its homeland for such operations, and it has filed a copy of such authorization with the Department;

(2) Comply with all applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, and with all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning security, including, but not limited to, 14 CFR Parts 129, 91, and 36 and 49 CFR Part 1546 or 1550, as applicable. To assure compliance with all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning security, the holder shall, before commencing any new service (including charter flights) from a foreign a irport that would be the holder’s last point of departure for the United States, contact its International Industry Representative (IIR) (formerly referred to as International Principal Security Inspector) to advise the IIR of its plans and to find out whe ther the Transportation Security Administration has determined that security is adequate to allow such airport(s) to be served;

(3) Comply with the requirements for minimum insurance coverage contained in 14 CFR Part 205, and, prior to the

commencement of any operations under this authority, file evidence of such coverage, in the form of a completed OST Form 6411, with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Program Management Branch (AFS

- 260), Flight Standards Service (any changes to, or termination of, ins urance also shall be filed with that office);

(4) Not operate aircraft under this authority unless it complies with operational safety requirements at least equivalent to Annex 6 of the Chicago Convention;

(5) Conform to the airworthiness and airman competency requirements of its Government for international air services;

(6) Except as specifically exempted or otherwise provided for in a Department Order, comply with the requirements of 14 CFR Part 203, concerning waiver of Warsaw Convention liabilit y limits and defenses;

(7) Agree that operations under this authority constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity, for the purposes of 28 U.S.C. 1605(a), but only with respect to those actions or proceedings instituted against it in any court or other

tribu nal in the United States that are: (a) based on its operations in international air transportation that, according to the contract of carriage, include a point in the United States as a point of origin, point of destination, or agreed stopping place, or fo r which the contract of carriage was purchased in the United States; or (b) based on a claim under any international agreement or treaty cognizable in any court or other tribunal of the United States. In this condition, the term "international air transpo rtation" means "international transportation" as defined by the Warsaw Convention, except that all States shall be considered to be High Contracting Parties for the purpose of this definition;

(8) Except as specifically authorized by the Department, origi nate or terminate all flights to/from the United States in its homeland;

(9) Comply with the requirements of 14 CFR Part 217, concerning the reporting of scheduled, nonscheduled, and charter data;

(10) If charter operations are authorized, except as othe rwise provided in the applicable aviation agreement, comply with the Department's rules governing charters (including 14 CFR Parts 212 and 380); and

(11) Comply with such other reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations required by the public interest as may be prescribed by the Department, with all applicable orders or regulations of other U.S. agencies and courts, and with all applicable laws of the United States.

This authority shall not be effective during any period when the holder is not in compl iance with the conditions imposed above. Moreover, this authority cannot be sold or otherwise transferred without explicit Department approval under Title 49 of the U.S. Code.

12/2007