- 1 - 

Alexander Van der Bellen

Managing Director and 

Associate General Counsel 

Delta Air Lines, Inc. 

1212 New York Avenue NW 

Washington, DC 20005 

202.842.4184 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com 

May 14, 2013 

via email and regulations.gov 

The Honorable Susan Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Support for Delta’s Brazil Frequency Request 

 

Dear Assistant Secretary Kurland: 

Please find enclosed letter signed by Mayor Dave Bing of Detroit, expressing support for Delta’s 

U.S.-Brazil frequency application. 

 

Respectfully submitted, 

Alexander Van der Bellen 

CC: DOT-OST-2013-0072 

 Service List 
May 9, 2013 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Delta Air Lines 

 Request for Detroit-Brazil Frequencies 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

As the Mayor of Detroit I urge you to grant the application of Delta Air Lines for 21 

Brazil frequency allocations, seven of which Delta will use to ensure the continuation of 

nonstop Detroit-Sao Paulo service. The balance of Delta’s frequency allocation request 

will support Delta’s plans to expand services in the growing U.S.-Brazil market. Delta 

first instituted Detroit-Sao Paulo nonstop service in 2010 and it has received the strong 

support of Detroit residents and those connecting through the modern McNamara 

Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Indeed, the size of the local 

Detroit-Sao Paulo market has doubled since Delta entered the market. 

Because Delta is obligated to transfer seven Brazil frequencies to US Airways as part of 

the DCA/LGA slot swap transaction, it is very important that Delta receive frequencies in 

this proceeding to continue offering daily service between Detroit and Sao Paulo. An 

award of 21 frequencies to Delta, including the seven required requested for Detroit, will 

help to promote competitive balance among the U.S. carriers serving Brazil, given 

American’s dominance in the market and the fact that it is merging with US Airways. 

The Detroit-Sao Paulo route is very important to Detroit and the State of Michigan. The 

rejuvenated U.S. auto industry has taken many steps to increase its presence in the large 

and growing Brazil market and nonstop service to Sao Paulo has aided the industry in its 

efforts to grow the Brazil market for U.S. nameplates. Many other Fortune 500 

Companies are located in Michigan and they too benefit by having Delta’s nonstop 

service to the rapidly growing Brazil market. 
Delta Air Lines – Request for Detroit-Brazil Frequencies 2

I understand that the Department will have to make a choice among the carriers applying 

for the limited number of available Brazil frequency allocations. As you consider the 

merits of the various applications I urge you to assign a high priority to the very special 

need of the Detroit business community for uninterrupted nonstop Detroit-Sao Paulo 

service. 

Sincerely, 

Dave Bing 

Mayor 
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

A copy of the foregoing Application has been served this 14th day of May, 2013, 

upon the following persons via email:

Francis.Heil@aa.com 

Robert.Wirick@aa.com

howard.kass@usairways.com

benjamin.slocum@usairways.com

dan.weiss@united.com

thomas.bolling@united.com

paul.gretch@dot.gov

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov

brian.hedberg@dot.gov

brett.kruger@dot.gov

urskr@state.gov

joe.cambron@wcaa.us

brubinst@panynj.gov

louis.miller@atlanta-airport.com

info@airlineinfo.com