BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_________________________________________

)

Application of )

)

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2014-____

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) )

)

For an Exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 )

(IAH-CUN) )

And Amendment to Foreign Air Carrier )

Permit )

__________________________________________)

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V.

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR AN EXEMPTION AND

AMENDMENT TO FOREIGN AIR CARRIER PERMIT

Communications concerning this document should be addressed to:

David M. Kirstein

Joanne W. Young

KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC

1750 K Street N.W.

Suite 200

Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 331-3348 (telephone)

(202) 331-3933 (facsimile)

Counsel for

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

August 5, 2014

NOTICE: The Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. has requested expedited treatment of 

this application. We will poll U.S. carrier representatives and inform the 

Department of the results.
BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_________________________________________

)

Application of )

)

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2014-____

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) )

)

For an Exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 )

(Houston Texas – Cancun, Mexico) )

And Amendment to Foreign Air Carrier )

Permit )

__________________________________________)

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V.

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR AN EXEMPTION AND

AMENDMENT TO FOREIGN AIR CARRIER PERMIT

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109(c), Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

(“vivaAerobus”), a Mexican air carrier, respectfully applies for exemption from provisions of 

49 U.S.C. § 41301, authorizing it to engage in scheduled foreign air transport of persons, 

property and mail between Houston, Texas and Cancun, Mexico. vivaAerobus plans to institute 

services to the points in Texas on or about Monday, August 18, 2014. 

In addition, vivaAerobus respectfully requests that the Department amend the carrier’s 

foreign air carrier permit to integrate the exemption authority requested herein and vivaAerobus’s 

existing exemption authority (as described below) to eliminate the need to apply for repeated 

renewals of the exemption authority.

In support of this Application, vivaAerobus states as follows:
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

Houston, Texas – Cancun, Mexico

Page 2 of 4

1. vivaAerobus was established in November 2006 as the first low-cost Mexican air 

carrier and is currently serving the Monterrey, Mexico - Houston, Texas market.

2. Beginning approximately on August 18, 2014, vivaAerobus plans to operate five 

weekly nonstop roundtrip flights between Houston, Texas and Cancun, Mexico on a year-round 

basis. The proposed services will generate significant benefits for the traveling and shipping 

public.

3. vivaAerobus has been found fit, willing and able to provide foreign air 

transportation and currently holds a foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled service of 

foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between: 1) Monterrey, Mexico and 

Orlando, Florida; 2) Monterrey, Mexico and Miami, Florida; 3) Guadalajara, Mexico and 

Houston, Texas; 4) Guadalajara, Mexico and San Antonio, Texas; 5) Monterrey, Mexico and Las 

Vegas, Nevada; 6) Monterrey, Mexico and Houston, Texas; 7) Monterrey, Mexico and San 

Antonio, Texas; 8) Monterrey, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois; and 9) Guadalajara, Mexico and 

Las Vegas, Nevada; and Charter foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between 

Mexico and the United States.

4. The Mexican DGCA has authorized vivaAerobus to provide service between 

Houston and Cancun. See attached authorizations/designations.

5. vivaAerobus currently operates Boeing 737-300 and Airbus 320 aircraft, and is 

currently transitioning to an all A320 fleet. Mexico is a contracting state to the Convention on 

International Civil Aviation (“ICAO”) and observes all applicable ICAO standards. This 

exemption application does not raise any environmental or energy issues because approval of this 
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

Houston, Texas – Cancun, Mexico

Page 3 of 4

request will not result in an increase in fuel consumption of ten million gallons or more in the 

near future.

6. The requested authority is covered by the U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement. 

On December 12, 2005, the Governments of the United States and Mexico signed an amendment 

to the bilateral agreement broadening air transport services between the two countries and 

permitting designated Mexican carriers to operate from a “point or points in Mexico to a point or 

points in the United States” subject to limitations on the number of designations per market. 

vivaAerobus’s proposed services are within the scope of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral. The abovereferenced routes are available for service by a Mexican carrier pursuant to Annex I Paragraph 

B.5 of the 2005 Amendment.

7. Grant of the exemptions is consistent with the public interest. vivaAerobus’s 

scheduled operations will increase competition in U.S.-Mexico market and provide low-cost 

travel options to passengers.

8. Integration of vivaAerobus’s exemption authority with its permit authority in an 

amended foreign air carrier permit is consistent with the Department’s goals of streamlining its 

carrier licensing procedures. See In the Matter of Streamlining Regulatory Procedures For 

Licensing U.S. and Foreign Air Carriers, Docket OST-2005-22228 (August 25, 2008).

WHEREFORE, vivaAerobus respectfully requests the Department grant it exemptions

from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 as well as such other and further relief as the Department may deem 

necessary to allow vivaAerobus to engage in scheduled foreign air transport of persons, property

and mail between Houston, Texas – Cancun, Mexico.
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

Houston, Texas – Cancun, Mexico

Page 4 of 4

Respectfully Submitted,

David M. Kirstein

Joanne W. Young

KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC

1750 K Street N.W.

Suite 200

Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 331-3348 (telephone)

Counsel for 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

August 5, 2014
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on this 5th day of August 2014, a copy of the foregoing Application 

of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. for an exemption from provisions of 49 U.S.C. 

§ 41301was served by email on the parties named below:

gmurphy@crowell.com 

dan.weiss@united.com 

steve.morrissey@united.com 

anita.mosner@hklaw.com 

jennifer.nowak@hklaw.com 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com 

sametta.c.barnett@delta.com 

chris.walker@delta.com

jrichardson@johnlrichardson.com

jCanny@amerijet.com 

cefelts@fedex.com 

timothy.erickson@airtransport.cc 

robert.wirick@aa.com 

howard.kass@aa.com

francis.heil@aa.com

john.s.duncan@faa.gov

agoerlich@ggh-airlaw.com 

rsilverberg@sgbdc.com 

jjohnson@sgbdc.com 

marshall.sinick@squirepb.com

dwight.moore@ustranscom.mil

rpommer@atlasair.com 

matwood@cozen.com 

jhill@dowlohnes.com 

thomas.Ting@suncountry.com 

john@mietuslaw.com 

mgoldman@sgbdc.com

kevin.montgomery@ polaraircargo.com 

peter.beckett@polaraircargo.com

stephen.lachter@lachterlaw.com

reese.davidson@dot.gov

robert.finamore@dot.gov

bob.kneisley@wnco.com

leslie.abbott@wnco.com

robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com

patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com

barbara.russell@virginamerica.com

john.varley@virginamerica.com

pmurphy@lopmurphy.com

urskr@state.gov

perkmann@cooley.com

jyoung@yklaw.com

__________________________

 David M. Kirstein