U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 

of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary March 25, 2010 

of Transportation 51..1 

Mr. Robert H. Working, A.A.E. 


Airport Manager 


Evansville-V anderburgh Airport Authority District 


7801 Bussing Drive 


Evansville, IN 47725 


Dear Mr. Working: 

Thank you for your letter of February 24 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed 

by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalf of Secretary LaHood. 

As you may know, 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 ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe 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-_ 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 Affairs 

S 10-100303-017 

Evansville-Vandernurgh Airport Authority DistrIct 

Evansvtlle Regional Airport 

7801 Bussin.g Drive 

Evansville, IN 47725·6799 

(812) 421-4401 Office 

(812) 421-4412 Fax 

WWW.EIVv:.')ilport,(:om 

February 24, 2010 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 


Secretary 


U.S. Department of Transportation 


1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 


Washington, DC 20590 


Docket DOT-OST-20l0-..· 


o.,earMr. Secretary: 

Thanlc you for the opportunity to express Evansvllle-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District's support for 

the application for antitrust immunity and proposed Joint business agreement filed by American Airlines 

and Japan Airlines. The proposed alliance between these two airlines is vital for ,the oneworld alliance 

to compete effectively with the Star and Sl<yTeam alliances. This increased alliance competition will In 

turn 'enhance the benefits of the Department's Open Skies policy - first by solidifying U.S. - Japan Open 

Skies, then by serving as a foundation for further liberalization across Asia. 

After a thorough review, we encourage the Department ofTransportation to approve this application as 

it would enable these oneworld alliance airlines to work closely together to deliver highly competitive 

,~ir transportation services. Approval for AA/JAL (jlliance 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 the competition afforded by three competitive air alliances. 

We urge you to quickly approve this application. 

Sincerely, ' 

~jJwd;~' 

Robe" H. Working. AAE. ) 

Airport Manager 

Evansvitle-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District 

7801 Bussing Drive . , 

Evansville, Indiana 47725 

ryworking@ewalrport.com