BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C.

___________________________________________ Joint Application of ) ) Delta Air Lines, Inc., ) Virgin Blue Airlines PTY LTD; ) Virgin Blue International Airlines PTY ) LTD d/b/a V Australia; ) Pacific Blue Airlines (NZ) LT D; and ) Docket DOT- OST2009- Pacific Blue Airlines (AUST) PTY LTD ) 0155 ) Under 49 U.S.C. §§ 41308 and 41309 for Approval ) of and Antitrust Immunity for Alliance Agreements ) ___________________________________________ )

ANSWER OF DELTA MASTER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCI ATION, INTERNATIONAL IN SUPPORT OF THE JOINT APPLICATION The Delta Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (“Delta Pilots’ MEC”) strongly supports the Jo int Application of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”), Virgin Blue Airlin es Pty Ltd (“Virgin Blue”), Virgin Blue International Airlines Pty Ltd (“V Australia”), Pacific Blue Airlines (NZ) Ltd, and Pacific Blue Airlines (Aust) Pty Ltd (collectively th e “Joint Applicants”) for antitrust immunity for alliance agreements (the “proposed Allianc e”). ALPA represents the pilots at Delta, and the Delta pilots’ MEC is the governing body within ALPA with direct responsibility for matters concerning the Delta pilots. The Delta pilots’ MEC has great interest in thisproceeding because the Department’s decision will have a significant impact on the livelihoods and career expectati ons of Delta pilots and all employees of the company.

The Delta Pilots’ MEC urges the Department to act promptly in granting the requested immunity. We believe it will have the potential to enhance the health and growth of a U.S. air carrier, expand opportu nities for American workers, and provide significant benefits to the U.S. public.

The Joint Applicants have made a compelling case that antitrust immunity will enable the proposed Alliance to provide incr eased competition in th e U.S.-Australia and

U.S.-South Pacific markets which are curren tly dominated by Qantas, United and their respective One World and Star Alliance partners. The Department has repeatedly found that anti-trust immunity fo r airline alliances can result in enhanced competition, new/additional services, and improved conveni ence for travelers. Delta’s comprehensive U.S. domestic service, in cluding significant non-stop serv ice from its Los Angeles gateway, when combined with the Virgin car riers’ Australian domestic, New Zealand and South Pacific service, would mesh complementary netw orks and thus offer increased competition and concomitant benefits to the tr aveling public. Neither Delta nor the Virgin carriers alone, as new entrants in the rele vant markets, can challenge the incumbent carriers as effectively as the proposed Alliance could with antitrust immunity.

The Delta Pilots’ MEC is confident th at the approval of antitrust immunity for this proposed alliance will facilitate th e success of Delta’s entrance into the U.SAustralia market and provide real possibilitie s for the expansion of Delta’s international flying to Australia and the South Pacific. Th is expansion of international flying will inturn increase the demand for seats on Delta’s domestic flights feeding its international gateways, further increasing the opportunities for Delta workers and the benefits to the U.S. traveling public at large. Any new or expanded service Delta is ab le to provide should bring significant benefits to the traveling public and to American workers. New Australia and South Pacific flights generate s ubstantial economic, trade, and cultural benefits for the communities served. The new domestic flyi ng would bring additional air transportation services to communities served throughout De lta’s network. All such expansion will create new opportunities for De lta flight crews and other Delta employees throughout the country.

The requested immunity will also help protect American jobs and American interests by improving the ability of Delta to compete effectively in the U.S. –Australia and U.S.-South Pacific markets against othe r global carriers and gl obal alliances. As amply demonstrated in the Jo int Application, Qantas an d United and their respective alliances are formidable competitors. It is critical that Delta be equipped to compete effectively with them. The requested antitrust immunity will help ensure that Delta is a vigorous competitor in the U.S.-Australia and the U.S.-South Pacific markets benefitting the traveling public and the t housands of U.S. workers who depend upon Delta for their

livelihoods. For all of these reasons, Delta Pilots’ MEC urges the Department to approve the alliance agreements under review and grant an titrust immunity to the Joint Applicants without further delay. Respectfully submitted,Captain Donald L. Moak Chairman Delta Master Executive Council Air Line Pilots Association, International

Dated: __March 25, 2010__________