Order 2010-05-17

 

 

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

 WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on March 4, 2010

 

Served: May 13, 2010

Docket DOT-OST-2005-22228

ORDER ISSUING CERTIFICATE 

Summary

By this order we grant United Air Lines, Inc. (referred to as United or the captioned air carrier) 

consolidated certificate authority to provide combination service in various U.S.-Mexico markets 

for which United holds economic authority by exemption or certificate. 

Background and Consolidation Request

In furtherance of the Department’s regulatory streamlining initiative for licensing U.S. air carriers, 

we announced by Notice on February 13, 2009 (February Notice) our intention to realign the 

existing non-open-skies economic authority held by carriers already holding a blanket open-skies 

certificate into new consolidated certificates of public convenience and necessity.1 We stated that 

we would realign economic authority involving markets, other than Mexico, that are not openskies partners of the United States into two certificates – an indefinite duration certificate for 

markets that are not entry- or frequency-limited and a five-year certificate for limited-entry and 

limited-frequency markets so that all authority in limited-entry or limited-frequency markets will 

have a common expiration date. We stated that we would cover a carrier’s U.S.-Mexico authority 

in a separate certificate, as a carrier must obtain new economic authority on a city-pair basis each 

time it proposes to add a new city-pair market to its U.S.-Mexico services. 

 

1

 Notice dated February 13, 2009, in Docket DOT-OST-2005-22228.

In the Matter of Consolidated International Route 

Authority for:

 UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

under 49 U.S.C. §41102 for a certificate of public 

convenience and necessity (U.S.-Mexico)
We invited carriers to request realignment of their economic authority by submitting a letter to the 

streamlining docket, Docket DOT-OST-2005-22228, identifying the authority to be included in the 

new certificates. Specifically, the carrier must identify the authority it holds for a particular 

market, whether it is limited to code-share services only, whether the market is entry- or 

frequency-limited, the number of the order in which the authority was granted (for previouslyissued certificate authority) and the docket in which it was granted (for exemption authority). We 

stated that if no issues arise making it impractical to consolidate currently held authority as 

requested by the carrier, we would draft a self-executing final order designed to issue the nonopen-skies market certificate(s) upon completion of the 49 USC 41307 Presidential review 

process.

By letter dated December 4, 2009,2 United requested a consolidated U.S.-Mexico certificate, and 

provided a listing of the U.S.-Mexico city-pair markets for which it seeks consolidation.3

Decision

Under assigned authority and consistent with our streamlining and consolidated certificate 

initiative, we have decided to grant United’s consolidation request and to reissue United’s existing 

economic authority to serve various city pairs in the U.S.-Mexico market. 

United is eligible to receive the consolidated certificate, as described in the February Notice, as it 

holds a blanket open-skies certificate.4

Our action here establishes for the carrier a new route certificate, attached at Appendix A. Each 

U.S.-Mexico city-pair market is included in the certificate as a route segment. The attached 

certificate also authorizes United to provide services beyond Mexico City to named foreign points 

in conjunction with certain services. We find that grant of the certificate is consistent with the 

public convenience and necessity.5 We find further that the pending consolidated certificate 

request is not controversial and that it is appropriate to grant the authority at issue here under 

simplified procedures, as explained in the February Notice.6 

The authority in the attached certificate is consistent with the aviation agreement between the 

United States and Mexico, authorizing the use of rights for which the United States has exchanged 

valuable operating rights. All of the authority conferred here contributes to the variety of price and 

service options available to travelers and shippers.

 

2 As corrected on December 29, 2009, and February 1, 2010.

3

 The city-pair markets for which United seeks a consolidated certificate are listed in Appendix B. This Appendix 

also identifies markets that are limited to code-share services only, those markets that may be served on a seasonal 

basis, and those markets that provide for services beyond Mexico City. 

4

 By Order 2007-4-19, United was issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for Route 838, 

authorizing the carrier to serve the open-skies partners of the United States. 

5

 Based on officially noticeable data, the Department has found the captioned air carrier fit, willing, and able to 

engage in foreign scheduled air transportation of persons, property, and mail using large aircraft. See

Order 2007-4-19. 

6

 In accordance with 14 CFR § 302.207, et seq., we may, in our discretion, omit a tentative decision in proceedings 

and proceed directly to a final decision.
We therefore find, under assigned authority, that the public interest warrants granting United the 

consolidated certificate attached at Appendix A, subject to the conditions attached. 

The attached certificate of public convenience and necessity is subject to the standard terms, 

conditions, and limitations we consistently impose in the public interest.7 The certificate holder 

may request amendment of the certificate to include newly obtained U.S.-Mexico authority 

through the addition of a new route segment, as described in the February Notice. 

Upon effectiveness, the authority granted by this order supersedes any orders previously issued or 

actions taken by the Department granting the carrier operating rights in the listed markets. For 

those services currently operated under an exemption, the exemption will terminate upon the 

effectiveness of the attached certificate of public convenience and necessity.

Findings and Conclusions

In view of the foregoing and all the facts of record, we find and conclude that:

1. It is consistent with the public convenience and necessity to issue the captioned air 

carrier the certificate attached as Appendix A to this order;

2. On the basis of data officially noticeable under 14 CFR 302.24 of the Department’s 

regulations, the captioned air carrier is a citizen of the United States and is fit, willing, 

and able to perform properly the foreign air transportation described in the attached 

certificate and to conform to the provisions of Subtitle VII of Title 49, United States 

Code (Transportation), and to the Department’s rules, regulations, and requirements;

3. The public interest requires that the exercise of the privileges granted by the attached 

certificate be subject to the terms, conditions and limitations contained in the attached 

certificate and to such others required by the public interest as the Department may 

prescribe;

4. The issuance of the attached certificate to the captioned air carrier does not constitute a 

major regulatory action under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as 

defined by section 313.4(a)(1) of the Department’s regulations;8and

5. The public interest does not require an oral evidentiary hearing or a show-cause 

proceeding on the application and the actions taken here. There are no material, 

determinative issues of fact requiring such procedures for their resolution.

In view of the above, and acting under authority assigned by the Department in its regulations, 

14 CFR Part 385, we find that our action here is consistent with Department policy.

 

7

 See Appendix B for the type of service (direct carrier (own-aircraft) vs. code-share-only) authorized in each U.S.-

Mexico city-pair market, including the level of service (year-round vs. seasonal) the carrier provides in each market. 

We remind the carrier to follow established procedures for requesting conversions of its direct-carrier/code-share 

authority and/or noticing service level changes.

8

 Our finding is based on the fact that the grant of this portion of the application would not result in a near-term 

increase in annual fuel consumption in excess of 10 million gallons.
ACCORDINGLY,

1. We issue, as attached in Appendix A, a certificate of public convenience and necessity to 

United Air Lines, Inc., covering U.S.-Mexico city-pair markets (as well as certain 

authority to serve beyond Mexico City to named foreign points) which United Air Lines, 

Inc., is authorized to serve by exemption or certificate;

2. This order supersedes any orders previously issued or actions taken by the Department to 

the extent such order or action grants the carrier operating rights, by certificate or 

exemption, in markets covered by the attached certificate;

3. The certificate issued to United Air Lines, Inc., will be effective upon the service date of 

this order; 

4. Unless disapproved by the President of the United States under 49 U.S.C. § 41307, this 

order shall become effective upon the 61st day after its submission for § 41307 review, or 

upon the date of receipt of advice from the President or his designee under Executive 

Order 12597 and implementing regulations that he or she does not intend to disapprove 

the Department’s order under that section, whichever occurs earlier;9and

5. We will serve this order on United Air Lines, Inc.; the Ambassador of Mexico in 

Washington, D.C.; the U.S. Department of State (Office of Aviation Negotiations), and 

the Federal Aviation Administration.

By: 

PAUL L. GRETCH

 Director

 Office of International Aviation

(SEAL)

An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at:

http://www.regulations.gov

 

9

 This order was submitted for review under 49 USC Section 41307 on March 4, 2010. The 61st day is May 4, 2010. 

Since the President or his designee did not disapprove this order before that date, it became effective on May 4, 2010. 
Appendix A

Experimental

Certificate of Public

Convenience and Necessity

for 

 

 ROUTE 902

 

This Certifies That

United Air Lines, Inc. 

is authorized, subject to the provisions of Subtitle VII of Title 49 of United 

States Code, the orders, rules, and regulations issued thereunder, and the 

attached Terms, Conditions, and Limitations, to engage in foreign air 

transportation of persons, property and mail.

This certificate is not transferable without the approval of the Department of 

the Transportation.

 By Direction of the Secretary

Issued by Order 2010-05-17 Paul L. Gretch 

On March 4, 2010 Director, Office of 

Effective on May 4, 2010 International Aviation
Order 2010-05-17

 Route 902

Page 1 of 3

Terms, Conditions, and Limitations

United Air Lines, Inc. for Route 902

is authorized to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail over 

the following U.S.-Mexico city-pair route segments:

Charlotte-Cozumel Los Angeles-Cancun

Charlotte-Mexico City Los Angeles-Puerto Vallarta

Los Angeles-San Jose del Cabo

Chicago-Cancun

Chicago-Cozumel

Chicago-Mexico City New York/Newark-Acapulco

Chicago-Puerto Vallarta New York/Newark-Cancun

Chicago-San Jose del Cabo New York/Newark-Cozumel

New York/Newark-Mexico City

Cleveland-Cancun New York/Newark-Puerto Vallarta

New York/Newark-San Jose del Cabo

Denver-Cancun San Francisco-Cancun

Denver-Mexico City San Francisco-Mexico City

Denver-Puerto Vallarta San Francisco-Puerto Vallarta

Denver-San Jose del Cabo San Francisco-San Jose del Cabo

Houston-Acapulco Washington, D.C.-Cancun

Houston-Aguascalientes Washington, D.C.-Mexico City

Houston-Cancun

Houston-Chihuahua Los Angeles-Mexico City and 

Houston-Ciudad del Carmen beyond Mexico City to the following

Houston-Cozumel points:

Houston-Durango

Houston-Guadalajara Buenos Aires, Argentina

Houston-Huatulco Belem, Brazil

Houston-Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Brasilia, Brazil

Houston-Leon/Guanajuato Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Houston-Manzanillo Sao Paulo, Brazil

Houston-Mazatlan Barranquilla, Colombia

Houston-Merida San Jose, Costa Rica

Houston-Mexico City San Salvador, El Salvador

Houston-Monterrey Guatemala City, Guatemala

Houston-Morelia Georgetown, Guyana

Houston-Oaxaca Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Houston-Puebla Managua, Nicaragua

Houston-Puerto Vallarta Panama City, Panama

Houston-Queretaro Paramaribo, Suriname

Houston-San Jose del Cabo Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Houston-San Luis Potosi Montevideo, Uruguay

Houston-Saltillo Caracas, Venezuela

Houston-Tampico Maracaibo, Venezuela

Houston-Toluca

Houston-Torreon

Houston-Veracruz

Houston-Villahermosa
Order 2010-05-17

 Route 902

Page 2 of 3

This authority is subject to the following conditions:

(1) The holder shall at all times conduct its operations in accordance with the regulations 

prescribed by the Department of Transportation for the services authorized by this certificate, 

and with such other reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations as the Department of 

Transportation may prescribe in the public interest.

(2) The holder shall at all times conduct its operations in accordance with all treaties and 

agreements between the United States and other countries, and the exercise of the privileges 

granted by this certificate is subject to compliance with such treaties and agreements and with 

any orders of the Department of Transportation issued under them. To the extent that the holder 

has authority to serve more than one country or points in more than one country on the same 

route segment, that authority does not confer upon the holder any additional rights (including 

fifth-freedom intermediate and/or beyond rights) in limited-entry markets unless the Department 

has completed any necessary carrier selection procedures to determine which carrier(s) should be 

authorized to exercise such rights and has notified the foreign country(ies) involved that any such 

selected carrier(s) has the required authority. In such cases, the fact that the carrier may hold 

authority to serve the countries (points) at issue on the same segment will not be considered as 

providing any preference to the holder in a carrier selection proceeding.

(3) The exercise of the authority granted here is subject to the holder’s first obtaining from 

the appropriate foreign governments such operating rights as may be necessary. 

(4) The holder’s authority is effective only to the extent that such operations comply with all 

applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security 

Administration, and with all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning security, 

including, but not limited to, 49 CFR Part 1544. To assure compliance with all applicable U.S. 

Government requirements concerning security, the holder shall, before commencing any new 

service (including charter flights) to or from a foreign airport, contact its Principal Security 

Inspector (PSI) to advise the PSI of its plans and to find out whether the Transportation Security 

Administration has determined that security is adequate to allow such airport(s) to be served. 

(5) The holder shall at all times remain a “Citizen of the United States,” as required by 

49 U.S.C. 40102(a)(15).

(6) The holder shall maintain in effect liability insurance coverage as required under 14 CFR 

Part 205. Failure to maintain such insurance coverage will render a certificate ineffective, and 

this or other failure to comply with the provisions of Subtitle VII of 49 U.S.C. or the 

Department’s regulations shall be sufficient grounds to revoke this certificate.

(7) The holder acknowledges that this certificate is granted to determine if the holder’s 

projected services, efficiencies, methods, rates, fares, charges, and other projected results will, in 

fact, materialize and remain for a sustained period of time, and to determine whether the holder 

will provide the innovative and low-priced air transportation it proposed in its application for this 

authority. 
Order 2010-05-17

 Route 902

Page 3 of 3

(8)(a) The holder may combine services on all city-pair route segments of this certificate and 

combine services on this certificate with U.S.-Mexico combination services authorized by other 

Department of Transportation certificates or exemptions, subject to the conditions below.

(8)(b) The provisions in paragraph (8)(a), above, shall not authorize services which would 

constitute multiple designations on city-pair route segments where such multiple designations are 

not agreed to by the United States and Mexico. 

(9) The holder shall file a notice with the Department if it discontinues services on a city-pair 

route segment for 90 days or longer. This notice shall be given as soon as the decision to 

discontinue service (other than seasonal/intermittent) is made, but in no case later than the 91st

day of dormancy. Notices shall be filed in the form of a letter addressed to the U.S. Department 

of Transportation, U.S. Air Carrier Licensing Division, X-44, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, 

Washington, DC 20590, and shall identify the dormant city-pair route segment, and the date the 

market became (or will become) dormant. 

(10) Should the holder propose any substantial changes in its ownership, management, or 

operations (as that term is defined in 14 CFR 204 of the Department’s regulations), it must 

comply with the requirements of 14 CFR 204.5.

(11) In the event the holder ceases all operations for which it was found “fit, willing, and 

able,” its authority under this certificate shall be suspended under the terms of 14 CFR 204.7 and 

the holder may neither recommence nor advertise such operations unless its fitness to do so has 

been redetermined by the Department. Moreover, if the holder does not resume operations 

within one year of its cessation, its authority shall be revoked for dormancy.

(12)(a) The holder may combine its authority on the route segment for Washington, D.C.-

Mexico City service with its authority to serve the Los Angeles-Mexico City and beyond route 

segment in this certificate in order to provide service beyond Mexico City to the foreign points 

named in this certificate.

(12)(b) The holder shall make a stop at Mexico City on all flights serving a point or points 

beyond Mexico City.

The authority to serve each city-pair route segment in this certificate shall continue in effect until

May 4, 2015; notwithstanding the above, however, the authority to serve any city-pair route 

segment shall expire automatically and revert to the Department (a) the 90th day after the holder 

discontinues service on that segment, or (b) the holder notifies the Department (as provided in 

this certificate) that the segment is dormant, whichever occurs earlier; unless the Department 

earlier suspends, modifies, or deletes the authority.
Appendix B

Page 1 of 2

List of Currently-Held U.S.-Mexico Economic Authority

Submitted for Consolidation by United

Markets Where United is Authorized to Provide Service Using its Own Aircraft

Market Type of Authority Docket Number Level of Service

Chicago-Cancun Exemption DOT-OST-2005-23496 Year-round

Chicago-Cozumel Exemption DOT-OST-2004-17490 Seasonal

Chicago-Mexico City Certificate (Rt. 566) DOT-OST-1999-5846 Seasonal

Chicago-Puerto Vallarta Exemption DOT-OST-2005-22767 Year-round

Chicago-San Jose del Cabo Exemption DOT-OST-2005-21156 Year-round

Denver-Cancun Exemption DOT-OST-2004-18692 Year-round

Denver-Mexico City Exemption DOT-OST-2002-12502 Seasonal

Denver-Puerto Vallarta Exemption DOT-OST-2004-18692 Seasonal

Denver-San Jose del Cabo Exemption DOT-OST-2004-17676 Seasonal

Los Angeles-Cancun Exemption DOT-OST-2005-22360 Year-round

Los Angeles-Puerto Vallarta Exemption DOT-OST-2008-0243 Year-round

Los Angeles-San Jose del Cabo Exemption DOT-OST-2008-0056 Year-round

San Francisco-Cancun Exemption DOT-OST-2004-17685 Seasonal

San Francisco-Mexico City Certificate (Rt. 566) DOT-OST-1999-5846 Year-round

San Francisco-Puerto Vallarta Exemption DOT-OST-2004-17685 Seasonal

San Francisco-San Jose del Cabo Exemption DOT-OST-2004-17685 Seasonal

Washington, DC-Cancun Exemption DOT-OST-2003-16210 Year-round

Washington, DC-Mexico City1 Certificate (Rt. 566) DOT-OST-1999-5846 Year-round

Los Angeles-Mexico City Certificate (Rt. 566) DOT-OST-1999-5846 Year-round

 and beyond Mexico City to: 

 Buenos Aires, Argentina

 Belem, Brazil

 Brasilia, Brazil

 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 Sao Paulo, Brazil

 Barranquilla, Colombia

 San Jose, Costa Rica

 San Salvador, El Salvador

 Guatemala City, Guatemala

 Georgetown, Guyana

 Tegucigalpa, Honduras

 Managua, Nicaragua

 Panama City, Panama

 Paramaribo, Suriname

 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

 Montevideo, Uruguay

 Caracas, Venezuela

 Maracaibo, Venezuela

 

1

 The carrier may combine its route authority to serve Washington, D.C.-Mexico City with its route authority to serve Los 

Angeles-Mexico City in order to provide certain beyond Mexico City services (see certificate for named points beyond Mexico 

City, along with applicable certificate conditions).
Appendix B

Page 2 of 2

List of Currently-Held U.S.-Mexico Economic Authority

Submitted for Consolidation by United

Markets Where United is Authorized to Provide Service on a Code-Share Basis Only

Market Type of Authority Docket Number Level of Service2

Charlotte-Cozumel Exemption DOT-OST-2003-14576 Year-round

Charlotte-Mexico City Exemption DOT-OST-2003-14576 Year-round

Cleveland-Cancun Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Acapulco Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Aquascalientes Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Cancun Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Chihuahua Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Ciudad del Carmen Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Cozumel Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Durango Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Guadalajara Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Huatulco Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Leon/Guanajuato Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Manzanillo Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Mazatlan Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Merida Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Mexico City Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Monterrey Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Morelia Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Oaxaca Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Puebla Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Puerto Vallarta Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Queretaro Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-San Jose del Cabo Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-San Luis Potosi Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Saltillo Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Tampico Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Toluca Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Torreon Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

Houston-Veracruz Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

Houston-Villahermosa Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

New York/Newark-Acapulco Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

New York/Newark-Cancun Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

New York/Newark-Cozumel Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Year-round

New York/Newark-Mexico City Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

New York/Newark-Puerto Vallarta Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

New York/Newark-San Jose del Cabo Exemption DOT-OST-2009-0192 Seasonal

 

2

 United advises that the level of service provided in each of these markets is dependent on its code-share partner(s). 

In this regard, we will apply service level changes of the operating carrier(s) to United, as well.