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

Office of the Secretary April 14, 2010 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Bill Callegari 

Texas House ofRepresentatives .. 

P. O. Box 2910 

Austin, TX 78768-2910 

Dear Representative Callegari: 

Thank you for 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. 

As you 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 plan to launch a joint venture for transpacific 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 ofthe record to 

determine if it is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made. in 9Onsultation 

with the U.S. Department of Justice'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 on the merits ofthe application. I 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, a copy of your letter and this response have been placed in Docket 

DOT-OST-2010-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. We appreciate your interest 

in this proceeding. 

jdSusan L. Kurland 1. ~ssistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
S 10-100217-035 


TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 


CAPITOL OFFICE: DISTRICT OFFICE:

P.O. Box 2910 1550 FOXLAKl! DR., STE 120

AUSTIN, TEXAS 78768--2910 HOUSTON, TEXAS, 77084

(512)463-0528 (281) 578-8484

(512)463-7820 FAX FAX (281) 578-1674

BILL CALLEGARI 

STATE REPRESENTATIVE 

January 27,2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

lam writirig in support ofthe ContinentallUnitedl All Nippon Airways joint application 

for antitrust immunity and approval for the three carriers to create the first ever joint 

airline venture between the U.S. and Asia. 

Last year, Continental's Trans-Atlantic antitrust immunity and joint venture application 

to join the Star Alliance was approved,.given the consumer benefits it would provide. 

Continental's subsequent entrance into Star has enhanced competition among all three 

global a1liances and, for instance, is the pnmary reason 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 Star Alliance partner. Additionally, 

service from NewarklNew York to Munich, Germany is scheduled to be added this year, 

giving the Houston area an easy one-stop connection. I am confident that approval ofthe 

Pacific application can also be helpful to Continental in expanding its network in the 

Pacific region once economic conditions warrant. 

I finnly believe cooperation among airlines benefits air travel consumers, airline 

competition, and drives jobs 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 traveling between the U.S. and Asia. . . t ";' '" ',; , ! • • . , 

rencourage you to approve this joint application 'as promptly ·rufpossible. 'I. 

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

Best regards, :' .,' 

~. 

W. A. CaUegari 

E-Mail: bill.callegari@house.state.tx.us