## u.s.Departmentof Transportation OfficeoftheSecretory ofTransportation



### Ms. Bell 

### 0. de Souza 345 N. Maple Drive, Suite 210 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 DearMs. de Souza: Assistant Secretory 

## MAY 01 2013 i 200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590



### c.:.) 

## Thank you for your letter ofFebruary 

## 6, 2013, supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by Air France, Alitalia, Delta, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic. The Secretary has asked that

### I respond to your letter directly. As you may know, Delta and VirginAtlantic are seeking antitrust immunity primarily 

### to launch ajointventure covering all oftheir flights between North America andthe United Kingdom. Delta and Virgin Atlantic are proposing to cooperate with Air France, Alitalia, and KLM as part ofthe newjointventure. The application is administered in apublicdocket, which ensures that interested parties havethe opportunity to comment The U.S. DepartmentofTransportation (DOT) 

### will evaluate the application according to rigorous statutory standards. Decisions on the application are made in consultation withthe U.S. 

### DepartmentofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis ofcompetitive factors. As this matter is now pending, 1

### hope you tmderstan.d that 

### 1 cannot comment 

## on the merits ofthe application. 

### Jcan assure you, however, that DOT will give full 

### and fair consideration to the application as 

### well as to any comments filed in 

### the docket. As is ournormal practice, 

### 1am 

### placing a 

### copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0068 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate yourinterest 

### in this proceeding. Sincerely yours,

SusanL. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

# MANSOUR TRAVEL COMPANY

February 6, 2013 The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary United States Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Dear Secretary LaHood: The Mansour Travel Services is located in Los Angeles, CA. We are writing in support ofthe application by Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic for antitrust immunity for the two carriers to form ajointventurefor North America- U.K. service. London is the most importanttransatlantic destination for U.S. passengers, and London is the most important international business route for our company. The proposed jointventure will allow Delta and Virgin Atlantic to offer a more comprehensive and competitive alternative which will benefitbusiness travelers who desire higher service levels and schedule flexibility. The Delta 

### -Virgin Atlantic partnership will allow both carriers to offer a greatly expanded network at London's Heathrow airport which is the preferred airportfor business travelers. The jointventure also will benefit our company by providing access to a broader network, improved connectivity and convenient booking options. For these reasons, we urge you to approve the application for antitrust immunity between Delta and Virgin Atlantic. The newjointventure will be a great benefit to our company, and will be a positive development in providing improved service and competitive alternatives in the London travel market

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