BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of 

 DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

for an allocation of 7 U.S.-China frequencies 

pursuant to 14 C.F.R. 302.301

(Seattle-Shanghai) 

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Docket DOT-OST-2012-

 

 

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

FOR A FREQUENCY ALLOCATION

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

Glen Hauenstein

Executive Vice President – Network Planning

 & Revenue Management

Robert J. Cortelyou

Senior Vice President – Network Planning

Andreas Renner

Director – International Network Planning

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

1030 Delta Boulevard

Atlanta, Georgia 30320

Andrea Fischer Newman

Senior Vice President – Government Affairs

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005

Alexander Van der Bellen

Managing Director – Government Affairs

 & Associate General Counsel

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 842-4184

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

October 8, 2012

NOTICE: Delta is conducting a poll of the carrier representatives served with this 

application and will promptly advise the Department of the results.

 
BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of 

 DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

for an allocation of 7 U.S.-China frequencies

pursuant to 14 C.F.R. 302.301

(Seattle-Shanghai) 

)

)

)

)

)

) 

)

)

)

Docket DOT-OST-2012-

 

 

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

FOR A FREQUENCY ALLOCATION

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”), pursuant to 14 C.F.R. 302.301, hereby applies for 

an allocation of seven (7) weekly U.S.-China Zone 1 combination frequencies in order to 

provide nonstop service between Seattle, Washington and Shanghai, People’s Republic 

of China. Delta plans to commence daily service on June 17, 2013, using 208 seat 

Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. The initial proposed operating schedule is as follows:

Departs Arrives Effective

Seattle at 2:45 p.m. Shanghai at 6:20 p.m. (next 

day)

June 17, 2013

Shanghai at 12:20 p.m. Seattle at 8:35 a.m. June 19, 2013

Delta’s proposed service will provide Seattle customers with the important new 

convenience of nonstop service. Seattle is a major west coast business center, and the 

new nonstop air link with Shanghai will foster travel and trade opportunities, boosting 

Seattle’s economy, creating jobs and providing benefits to travelers across the Pacific 

Northwest region. Delta, together with its domestic codeshare partner, Alaska Airlines, 

operate a major international connecting hub at Seattle, extending the benefits of Delta’s 

nonstop Asia services to scores of cities throughout the United States. 
Application of Delta

Page 2

The proposed services are clearly in the public interest and Delta already holds 

the necessary underlying authority. Seattle-Shanghai is an authorized route on Delta’s 

certificate for Route 378. See Order 99-2-8 (timely APA renewal application filed August 

1, 2003) and Order 2009-1-8 (reissuing Northwest Airlines, Inc. authorities in Delta’s 

name). 

Delta’s proposed services are fully consistent with the Air Transport Agreement 

between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China. Under the U.S.-China 

agreement, 35 scheduled Zone 1 combination frequencies are unallocated and available 

to support Delta’s proposed services. 

Delta anticipates that it will operate at a reduced frequency level during the offpeak winter season (approximately 4 to 5 weekly flights). To allow this necessary 

flexibility and avoid the need for dormancy waivers, Delta requests that four of the seven 

requested frequencies be authorized for seasonal use. 

Delta expects no difficulty obtaining fuel for the proposed services from its 

regular suppliers. The environmental impacts of the service will be de minimis. 

Because Delta would otherwise fully deploy these aircraft elsewhere in its network, there 

will not be a near term net change in aircraft fuel consumption of more than 10 million 

gallons. 
Application of Delta

Page 3

WHEREFORE, Delta requests that the Department grant this application for an 

allocation of 7 U.S.-China frequencies for Seattle-Shanghai service as described herein. 

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________

Alexander Van der Bellen

Managing Director, Government Affairs

 & Associate General Counsel

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

A copy of the foregoing Motion has been served this 8th day of October, 2012, upon the 

following persons via email:

Francis.Heil@aa.com

Robert.Wirick@aa.com

dan.weiss@united.com

jonathan.linde@united.com

howard.kass@usairways.com

benjamin.slocum@usairways.com

paul.gretch@dot.gov

keith.glatz@dot.gov

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov

info@airlineinfo.com