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Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary APR 0 2 2010 of Transportation 

The Honorable Ashley Swearengin 

Mayor of Fresno 

Fresno, CA 93721 

Dear Mayor Swearengin: 

Thank youforyour.letter of February 25, cosignedby Russell C. Widmar, 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 andAsia. 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 of the record to 

determine if it is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation 

with the U.S. Department of Justice'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-2010-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. An identical letter has been sent to Mr. Widmar. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary 


for Aviation and International Affairs 

... 


U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue .. SE 

Washington, DC 20590 . of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

April 2, 2010 . 

Mr. Russell C. Widmar, AAE 


Director Of Aviation 


Fresno Yosemite International Airport 


4995 E. Clinton Way 

Fresno, CA 93727·1525 

DeM~r Thank you for your letter ofFebruary 25, cosigned by Mayor Ashley Swearengin,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 conunent. 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-2010-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. An identical letter has been sent to Mayor Swearengin. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary 


for Aviation and International Affairs 

S 1 0-1 00317-0m~ 

MAYOR ASHLEY SWEARENGIN 

February 25, 2010 

The Honorable Raymond H. laHood 

U.S. Department ofTransportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Docket DOT-OST 201O~'" 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

Thank you for the opportunity to express our 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 One World Alliance to compete 

effectively with the Star and Sky Team Alliances. This increased alliance competition will, in 

turn, enhance the benefits of the Department of Transportation'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 of Transportation to approve this 

application as it would enable these OneWorld Alliance airlines to work closely together to 

deliver highly competitive air transportation services. Approval for AAlJAL Alliance 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 respectfully urge you to quickly approve this ~pplication.· Thank you for your consideration 

ofthis request. 

Sincerely, 

CITY OF FRESNO 

. CITY HALL" 2600 FRESNO STREET • FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93721-3600 

(559)621-8000" FAX (559) 621-7990" www.fresno.gov 

Ashley Swearen . 

Mayor