BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

__________________________________________ 

Application of ) 

 ) 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2010-0082 

 ) OST-2008-0095 

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) ) 

 ) 

For Renewal of Exemption from 49 U.S.C. ) 

§ 41301 ) 

(Monterrey, Mexico – Houston, Texas & ) 

Monterrey, Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada) ) 

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V. 

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY

Communications concerning this document should be addressed to: 

 

David M. Kirstein 

Joanne W. Young 

 KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC 

1750 K Street N.W. 

Suite 200 

 Washington, D.C. 20006 

(202) 331-3348 (telephone) 

(202) 331-3933 (facsimile) 

 

 Counsel for 

 Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

March 15, 2011
 

BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

_________________________________________ 

 ) 

Application of ) 

 ) 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2010-0082 

 ) OST-2008-0095 

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) ) 

 ) 

For Renewal of Exemption from 49 U.S.C. ) 

§ 41301 ) 

(Monterrey, Mexico – Houston, Texas & ) 

Monterrey, Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada ) 

_________________________________________ ) 

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V. 

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION

 Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109(c), Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

(“vivaAerobus”), a Mexican air carrier, respectfully requests renewal of the exemption 

authority granted to it by the Department of Transportation (the “Department”) in the abovecaptioned dockets to engage in scheduled foreign air transport of persons, property and mail 

between (1) Monterrey, Mexico and Houston, Texas and (2) Monterrey, Mexico and Las 

Vegas, Nevada. By Notices of Action Taken, March 12, 2010 and April 28, 2010, the 

Department granted vivaAerobus exemption authority for these routes. vivaAerobus’ 

existing exemption authority expires on March 12, 2011 for the Monterrey, Mexico – Las 

Vegas, Nevada route and on May 17, 2011 for the Monterrey, Mexico – Houston, Texas 

route. vivaAerobus requests that the Department grant renewal of the exemptions for a twoyear period and relies on the provision of the Administrative Procedures Act and Part 377 of 
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

Monterrey-Houston, Monterrey-Las Vegas Exemption 

Page 2 of 3 

the Department’s procedural regulations to continue its existing authorization in force 

pending a final decision on this renewal request. 1 

In support of this Application, vivaAerobus states as follows: 

1. vivaAerobus was established as the first low-cost Mexican air carrier in 

November 2006. It currently operates from its hub at General Mariano Escobedo 

International Airport, in Monterrey, Mexico, to various Mexican destinations, as well as to 

Las Vegas, Nevada and Houston, Texas. vivaAerobus submits that it is fit, willing, and able 

to provide the air transportation services requested in this application. 

2. vivaAerobus holds a foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled service 

between the Mexican points of Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, Leon, Queretaro, and 

Cancun and Austin, Texas. See Order 2008-1-23. It also holds exemption authority for 

Hermosillo, Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada. Notice of Action Taken, Docket OST-2009-0298 

dated November 24, 2009. There have been no material changes within the company that 

would affect the Department’s prior fitness findings. 

3. vivaAerobus uses Boeing 737-300 aircraft for all its services. Mexico is a 

contracting state to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (“ICAO”) and observes 

all applicable ICAO standards. This renewal application raises no environmental or energy 

issues, because approval of this request will not result in an increase in fuel consumption of 

ten million gallons or more in the near future. 

4. The basis for grant of this renewal request is covered by the U.S.-Mexico Air 

 

1

 March 12, 2011 fell on a Saturday, making the due date for the Monterrey, Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada 

Exemption Renewal Application Monday, March 14, 2011. Due to technical problems the Application was 

unable to be submitted. vivaAerobus requests that it be allowed to rely on the APA extension despite this 

delay. 
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

Monterrey-Houston, Monterrey-Las Vegas Exemption 

Page 3 of 3 

Transport Agreement. On December 12, 2005, the Governments of the United States and 

Mexico signed an amendment to the Bilateral broadening air transport services between the 

two countries and permitting designated Mexican carriers, to operate from a “point or points 

in Mexico to a point or points in the United States” subject to limitations on the number of 

designations per market. vivaAerobus’s requested renewal authority is within the scope of 

the U.S.-Mexico bilateral. 

5. Grant of the exemption renewals is consistent with the public interest. 

vivaAerobus’s scheduled operations will increase competition in the U.S.-Mexico market 

and provide low-cost travel options to passengers. 

WHEREFORE, vivaAerobus respectfully requests the Department to renew the 

exemptions granted in the above referenced dockets as well as such other and further relief as 

the Department may deem necessary to allow vivaAerobus to engage in scheduled foreign air 

transport of persons, property, and mail between (1) Monterrey, Mexico – Houston, Texas 

and (2) Monterrey, Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Respectfully Submitted, 

 

 ___________________________ 

David M. Kirstein 

Joanne W. Young 

 KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC 

1750 K Street N.W. 

Suite 200 

 Washington, D.C. 20006 

(202) 331-3348 (telephone) 

Counsel for 

 Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

March 15, 2011
 

Certificate of Service 

I certify that on this 15th Day of March 2011, a copy of the foregoing 

Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. for Exemption was served 

by email on the following: 

carl.nelson@aa.com

dan.weiss@coair.com

hershel.kamen@coair.com 

jeffrey.manley@united.com

jrichardson@johnlrichardson.com

sllunsford@fedex.com 

anbird@fedex.com

dvaughan@kelleydrye.com

rbkeiner@crowell.com

msinick@ssd.com

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com 

sametta.c.barnett@delta.com 

jeff.morgan@delta.com 

slachter@lachter-clements.com

pmurphy@lopmurphy.com

benjamin_slocum@usairways.com

howard_kass@usairways.com

robert.land@jetblue.com 

efaberman@wileyrein.com

john.allen@faa.gov 

byerlyjr@state.gov 

brian.hedberg@dot.gov 

george.wellington@dot.gov 

jhill@dlalaw.com 

 

 

 __________________________ 

 Lyndsey Grunewald