### U.S.Departmentof 

### Transportation Office

### of

### theSecretary ofTransportation


### Ms. Fran McClarnon Executive Director lnterpublic Group 622 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017 Dear Ms. McClarnon: Assistant Secretary 

## MAY 01 

## 2013 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590**~-** .:.

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### Thank you for your letter ofJanuary 25, 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 Virgin Atlantic are seeking antitrust immunity primarily to launch ajoint venture covering all oftheir flights between North America and the United Kingdom. Delta and Virgin Atlantic are proposingto cooperate with Air France, Alitalia, and KLM as part ofthe newjoint venture. 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. Decisions onthe application are made in consultation with the U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis ofcompetitive factors. As this matter is now pending, Ihope you understand that I cannot commenton the merits ofthe application. Ican assure you, however, thatDOT 

### will give full and fair consideration to the application as well as to any comments filed in the docket. As is ournormal practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0068 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in this proceeding.

.

# Since~ly**yo~** /)

# )(Uv,)/;;{~;{_~' /..._/' 

### Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

# I irnerpublic Group (}2 Third lwt:-nue

·**~J~V\·** York, NY fOl) l 7

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary United States Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 W'-t\'V.',Jnte.rpub1**~c.c.**nrn

Re: Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic

Dear Secretary LaHood: The lnterpublic Group Corporate offices are located in New York, New York. We are writing in support ofthe application by Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic for antitrust immunity for the two carriers to form ajointventure for the North America- U.K. service. london is the most important transatlantic destination for our U.S. passengers, and New YorkLondon is the most important international business route for our company. The proposed joint venture 

### will allow Delta and Virgin Atlantic to offer a more comprehensive and competitive alternative at New York which will benefit business travelers who desire hlgher service levels and schedule flexibility. The Delta -Virgin Atlantic partnership will allow both carriers to offer a greatly expanded network at Lcindon,s Heathrow airport which is the preferred airport for our corporate business travelers. The jointventure will also benefit our company by providing access to a broader network, improved connectivity and convenient booking options. Forthese reasons, we urge you to approve the application for antitrust immunity between Delta and Virgin Atlantic. The newjoint venture will be a great benefit to our company, and will be a positive development in providing improved service and competitive alternatives in the New York- London travel market.
Sincerely,

# ~(/_j_uftf/)1('

# tftLi•,-- Fran McClarnon/ ,. Executive Director, Global Travel and Corporate Credit Card Services tnterpublic Group 622 Thir:d Avenue New York, New York 10017



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