BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Joint Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.;

COMPASS AIRLINES, LLC; and

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 

PTY LTD

D/B/A/ VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

for a statement of authorization pursuant to

14 C.F R. Part 212

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Docket DOT-OST-2009-0156

 

JOINT APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC.; COMPASS AIRLINES, LLC; 

AND VIRGIN AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES PTY LTD 

FOR A STATEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION

Communications with respect to this document should be sent to:

Anita Mosner

HOLLAND & KNIGHT

800 17th Street N.W., Suite 1100

Washington, DC 20006 

(202) 419-2604 

anita.mosner@hklaw.com

Counsel for 

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 

PTY LTD

Alexander Van der Bellen

Managing Director – Regulatory and 

International Affairs & Associate General 

Counsel

Christopher Walker

Regional Director – Regulatory and 

International Affairs

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 842-4184

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

chris.walker@delta.com

Lisa A. Harig

MCBREEN & KOPKO

1501 Lee Highway, Suite 180

Arlington, VA 22209

(703) 247-5487

lharig@mklawdc.com

Counsel for

COMPASS AIRLINES, LLC

September 4, 2013
BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Joint Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.;

COMPASS AIRLINES, LLC; and

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 

PTY LTD

D/B/A/ VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

for a statement of authorization pursuant to

14 C.F R. Part 212

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Docket DOT-OST-2009-0156

 

JOINT APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC.; COMPASS AIRLINES, LLC; 

AND VIRGIN AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES PTY LTD 

FOR A STATEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION

Compass Airlines, LLC (“Compass”) hereby applies for authority for Virgin 

Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd (“Virgin Australia”) to codeshare on operations by 

Compass conducted on behalf of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”). This arrangement will 

enhance the benefits of beyond/behind gateway codesharing that Delta and Virgin

Australia deliver through their joint venture. Specifically, pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 212, 

Compass seeks a blanket statement of authorization allowing Compass to display Virgin

Australia’s “VA*” code on Delta Connection flights Compass operates: (a) within the 

United States (in conjunction with Virgin Australia’s services in foreign air transportation), 

and (b) between the United States and third countries.1

 Compass requests that its 

 1 To the extent necessary, the Joint Applicants request consolidation of this application into Docket 

DOT-OST-2009-0156, the Docket established by the Department for the administration of blanket 

statements of authorization for Delta, Virgin Australia, and other affiliated carriers. 
Joint Application of Delta, Compass, and Virgin Australia

Page 2

statement of authorization be valid for an indefinite period subject to the Department’s 

normal code share conditions.2

 

In support of this Application, Compass states as follows:

1. Compass is a certificated U.S. air carrier that operates flights for marketing 

and sale by Delta.

2. The Department has previously approved a blanket statement of 

authorization for Delta to display Virgin Australia’s code. See Notice of Action Taken 

dated September 1, 2009, Docket DOT-OST-2009-0156. The proposed services are fully 

consistent with the Department’s prior codeshare approval and also with the Open Skies 

Air Transport Agreement between the U.S. and Australia.

3. Delta and Virgin Australia anticipate expanding codesharing to encompass 

flights operated by Compass on Delta’s behalf. Accordingly, Compass requests a blanket 

statement of authorization under 14 C.F.R. Part 212, permitting Compass to display Virgin

Australia’s “VA*” designator code on flights operated by Compass: (a) within the United 

States (in conjunction with Virgin Australia’s services in foreign air transportation), and (b) 

between the United States and third countries.

4. The proposed codeshare services will be operated pursuant to the 

Delta/Virgin Australia codeshare agreement previously approved by the Department and 

an ancillary Delta/Virgin Australia/Compass codeshare agreement. A redacted copy of 

the ancillary Delta/Virgin Australia/Compass codeshare agreement is attached to this 

Application.

5. Virgin Australia holds authority to conduct scheduled foreign air 

transportation of persons, property and mail from points behind Australia, via Australia, 

and intermediate points, to points in the United States and beyond. See Order 2009-9-18. 

 2 The Joint Applicants request a waiver of the 45-day advance filing requirement for codeshare 

statements of authorization under 14 C.F.R. Part 212 so that the proposed codeshare services may 

begin without delay. 
Joint Application of Delta, Compass, and Virgin Australia

Page 3

6. The same public interest considerations that supported the grant of 

codeshare authority to Virgin Australia and Delta apply with equal force to the services 

operated by Compass on behalf of Delta. Grant of this application will enhance the 

benefits of beyond/behind gateway codesharing that Delta and Virgin Australia deliver 

through their joint venture. 

7. To the extent necessary, Compass requests that the authority requested 

here for Virgin Australia codesharing on Compass be administered jointly with the 

authority for Virgin Australia codesharing on Delta in docket DOT-OST-2009-0156 such 

that any non-open skies point 30-day notice given for Delta or its Connection Carriers’

operations is deemed notice for all authorized carriers, except for U.S.-Mexico service 

where notices will continue to be provided on an operating carrier specific basis. 

Compass incorporates by reference the blanket open skies codeshare notice provided by 

Delta and Virgin Australia in docket DOT-OST-2009-0156 on July 8, 2009. Initial Virgin 

Australia/Compass codeshare markets are listed at Exhibit A-2 to the attached codeshare 

agreement. 

8. Compass is not a CRAF participant.

9. Compass will conduct these codeshare services in accordance with 14 

C.F.R. Part 257 and the other conditions normally imposed by the Department on 

codesharing statements of authorization.

WHEREFORE, Compass requests that the Department promptly grant the 

authority described herein. 
Joint Application of Delta, Compass, and Virgin Australia

Page 4

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Anita Mosner

______________________

Anita Mosner 

HOLLAND & KNIGHT

Counsel for

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA AIRLINES PTY 

LTD

Alexander Van der Bellen 

Managing Director – Government Affairs 

& Associate General Counsel

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

/s/ Lisa A. Harig

______________________

Lisa A. Harig

MCBREEN & KOPKO

Counsel for

COMPASS AIRLINES, LLC 







CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

A copy of the foregoing document has been served this 4th day of September, 2013, upon 

the following persons via email:

Air Carrier Name Email Address

Alaska Airlines Marshall Sinick msinick@ssd.com

American Francis Heil francis.heil@aa.com

American Robert Wirick robert.wirick@aa.com

Frontier/Republic Bob Cohn robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com

Frontier/Republic Pat Rizzi patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com

Hawaiian Jonathan Hill jhill@dowlohnes.com

JetBlue Robert Land robert.land@jetblue.com

Southwest/AirTran Bob Kneisley bob.kneisley@wnco.com

Spirit Airlines David Kirstein dkirstein@yklaw.com

Spirit Airlines Joanne Young jyoung@yklaw.com

Sun Country John Fredericksen john.fredericksen@suncountry.com

United Dan Weiss dan.weiss@united.com

United Thomas Bolling thomas.bolling@united.com

United Karine Faden karine.faden@united.com

United Oracio Marquez oracio.marquez@united.com

US Airways Benjamin Slocum benjamin.slocum@usairways.com

US Airways Howard Kass howard_kass@usairways.com

Virgin America Barbara Russell barbara.russell@virginamerica.com

Brett Kruger brett.kruger@dot.gov

Esta Rosenberg esta.rosenberg@dot.gov

Brian Hedberg brian.hedberg@dot.gov

Info info@airlineinfo.com