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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 

Washington. DC 20590 of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation JUN 1 0 2010 

,The Honorable Thomas M. Menino 

Mayor of Boston 

Boston, MA 02201 

Dear Mayor Menino: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by American 

Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalf ofthe Secretary ..~ 

As you may know, the applic~ts-members ofthe oneworld 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 of Transportation (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 consultation 

with the U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of 

competitive factors. As this matter is now pending, I hope you understand thatI cannot 

comment on the merits ofthe application .. I can assure you, however, that DOT will give full 

and fair consideration to the appli~ation as well as any comments filed in the docket. 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

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

this proceeding. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 


. Aviation and International Affairs 

S 10-100414-003 


CITY OF BOSTON • MASSACHUSETI'S 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 


THOMAS M. MENINO 


April 2, 20 I0 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 


Secretary 


U.S. Department ofTransportation 


1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 


Washington, DC 20590 


Docket DOT-OST-201O-~" 


Dear Mr. Secretary: 

Thank you for the opportunity to express my support for the application for antitrust 

immunity and proposed joint business agreement filed by American Airlines and Japan 

Airlines. The proposed alliancebetweeri these two airlines is vital for oneworld to 

compete effectively with the Star and SkyTeam alliance. This increased interalliance 

competition will in tumerihance the benefits ofthe Department's Open Skies policyfirst by solidifying U.S.-Japan Open Skies, then byserving as a foundation for further 

liberalization across Asia. 

After a thorough review, ( encourage the Department ofTransportation to approve this 

application as it would enablethese ,0ne:worldaUiance airlines to workclosely together to 

. deliver highly competitive air transportation services.. Approval for ANJAL alliance will 

have a positive impact on air travel by offering customers more service,scheduling and 

pricing options and will help to ensure that customers continue to benefit from having 

three competitive air alliances to choose from. 

I urge you to quickly approve this application. 

SincerelY'9-~-. _... ......... .:> 
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.' 	Thomas M. Mertino 

Mayor of Boston 

BOSTON CITY HALL • ONE CITY HALL PLAZA • BOSTON • MASSACHUSETTS 02201 • 617/635-4000