1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Assistant Secretary U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation Office ofthe Secretary April 14, 2010 ofTransportation

The Honorable Bill Callegari TexasHouse ofRepresentatives

.. P. O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768-2910 Dear Representative Callegari: Thankyoufor your letter to Secretary LaHood supporting the application for antitrusrllnmunity filed byAll Nippon Airways, United Airlines, and Continental Airlines. I am responding on behalfofthe Secretary.
Asyou may know, the applicants-members ofthe Star Alliance-are seeking antitrust immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According to the application, the alliance partners planto launch ajointventure for transpacific traffic. The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties havethe opportunity to comment. 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 9Onsultation with the U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of competitive factors. As this matter is now pending, I am sure you understand that the Department cannotcomment onthe merits ofthe application. I assure you, however, that DOT will give full and fair considerationto the application as well as any comments filed in the docket.
As is ournormal practice, a copy ofyour letter and this response have been placed in Docket DOT-OST-2010-0059 as a contact outside the record inthis matter. We appreciate your interest inthis proceeding.



## jdSusan L. Kurland 

# 1.**~ssistant** Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

### S 10-100217-035 

### TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT OFFICE: CAPITOL OFFICE: 1550 FOXLAKl! DR., STE 120 P.O. Box 2910 HOUSTON, TEXAS, 77084 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78768--2910 (281) 578-8484 (512)463-0528 FAX (281) 578-1674 (512)463-7820 FAX 

# BILL CALLEGARI STATE REPRESENTATIVE 

### January 27,2010 The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary United States Department ofTransportation 1200New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Secretary LaHood: lam 

### writirig in support ofthe ContinentallUnitedlAll Nippon Airwaysjoint application for antitrust immunity and approval for the three 

### carriers to create the first everjoint airline venturebetween the U.S. and Asia. Last year, Continental's Trans-Atlantic antitrust immunity andjoint venture application tojoin the StarAlliance was approved,.given the consumerbenefits it would provide. Continental's subsequent entrance into Star has enhanced competition among all three global a1liances and, for instance, is thepnmaryreason Continental has launched new non-stop service between Houston and Frankfurt, Genn(lJ1yand Edmonton, Canada. Continental also reinstated the Houston-Washington/Dulles Inarket, which allows easy access for customers to United's Dulles hub, a StarAlliance partner.Additionally, service from NewarklNew Yorkto Munich, Germany is scheduled to be addedthisyear, giving the Houston area an easy one-stop connection. I 

### am confidentthat approval ofthe Pacific application can also 

### be helpful to Continental in expanding its network in the Pacific region once economic conditions warrant. I 

### finnlybelieve cooperation among airlines benefits air travel consumers, airline competition, and drivesjobs and economic growth. With the recent U.S.

- Japan open skies agreement, barriers to new air service between our region and points in Japan have been removed. Antitrust immunity will enable all three airlines to make coordinated decisions that,will give airline customers and shippers.more flight choices, more itinerary options, and more fares to choose from when travelingbetween the U.S. and Asia.

. . t ";' '" ',; , ! • • . , 

### rencourage you to approve thisjoint application 'as promptly ·rufpossible. 'I.

. . .,' ,', : ' . . '!.' 

### Best regards, :' .,'

# ~. W. A. CaUegari E-Mail: bill.callegari@house.state.tx.us