# BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

for a frequency allocation

(U.S. - Brazil) )

)

)

)

)

)

) Docket DOT-OST-2011-

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

Robert J. Cortelyou

Senior Vice President – Network Planning

Steve Long

Director – Latin Network Planning

Chris Kennedy

General Manager – Latin

Network Planning

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

1030 Delta Boulevard

Atlanta, Georgia 30320 Andrea Fischer Newman

Senior Vice President – Government Affairs

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

1212 New York Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20005

Alexander Van der Bellen

Managing Director – Government Affairs

& Associate General Counsel

Jeff Morgan

Regional Director – Government Affairs

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

1212 New York Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 842-4184

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

April 21, 2011

# BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

for a frequency allocation

(U.S. - Brazil) )

)

)

)

)

)

) Docket DOT-OST-2011-

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

I. Introduction

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”) is pleased to respo nd to the Department’s notice

inviting applications for 2011 and 2012 U.S.-Brazil frequencies. Thanks to the success

of the U.S. Government in negotiating a new air tra nsport agreement with Brazil, there

are substantial opportunities to serve Brazil under the transitional Memorandum of

Consultations signed on March 18, 2011, which is ex pected to culminate in full open

skies with Brazil. Delta requests the following f requencies for service in 2011:

• Two frequencies to enable Delta to increase Detroi t-Sao Paulo service

from five to seven weekly, year-round flights. Del ta will indirectly fund

increased Detroit-Sao Paulo flying by reallocating Sao Paulo-eligible

frequencies currently used on the Atlanta-Rio de Ja neiro route. Thus,

Delta requests two of the October 1, 2011 Rio de Ja neiro-eligible

frequencies for this purpose. Delta’s Detroit prop osal will maximize the

public benefits by creating additional Sao Paulo se rvice for which there is

the greatest unmet consumer demand, and fewest avai lable frequencies.

This arrangement to fund additional Sao Paulo flyin g is consistent with

# Application of Delta

Page 2

DOT policy and precedent. Delta currently offers i ts five weekly DetroitSao Paulo flights thanks to a similar allocation of frequencies in August of

last year. See

NOAT dated August 2 2010, Docket DOT-OST-2010-

0186.

• Delta also requests seven frequencies to offer dai ly, year-round service

on the Atlanta-Manaus route. Delta’s service will provide the first U.S.

flag competition to Manaus, which is served nonstop from the U.S. only

by Brazil’s TAM. Atlanta is the world’s largest ai rline hub, and is well

situated to provide broad network coverage of the e ntire United States.

To the extent surplus Rio de Janeiro frequencies ar e available in 2011,

Delta requests that its Manaus proposal be funded f rom the Rio-eligible

pool. This will provide Delta flexibility to offe r additional competitive

service at Rio de Janeiro in the future. American was previously

awarded Rio-eligible frequencies for use in norther n/regional Brazil

markets. 1 

# Delta holds fewer Rio- and Sao-Paulo eligible fr equencies (26)

than American (58) or United/Continental (42).

II. Service Proposals

A. Detroit-Sao Paulo

The establishment of daily service on the Detroit-S ao Paulo route is Delta’s first

priority. Delta’s five weekly flights have been a strong success since they were

introduced December 2010. However, a less-than-dai ly service pattern is not optimal for

an important business market, such as Detroit, whic h is also a large hub. If awarded

the two frequencies it is requesting, Delta will op erate two additional Detroit-Sao Paulo

flights, effective December 18, 2011. Delta will utilize 209-seat Boeing 767-300ER

1 

# See , NOAT June 16, 2010 in Dockets DOT-OST-2010-0088 a nd DOT-OST-2010-0090.

# Application of Delta

Page 3

aircraft, equipped with 35 Business Elite seats, 31 Economy Comfort (premium economy)

seats, and 143 economy class seats. Delta’s Busine ssElite cabin will feature new, stateof-the-art flat bed seats, video on demand entertai nment system, and award-winning

food and wine service Delta's proposed nonstop se rvice schedule, operating statistics,

and aircraft information are set forth in Exhibits 101-104.

Detroit and Sao Paulo are each major industrial-man ufacturing centers with

strong communities of interest and a significant de mand for nonstop service. Detroit is

also home to Delta’s second-largest hub, where Delt a and its regional affiliates operate

more than 570 peak day departures from the hub and will provide nonstop-to-nonstop

service for 90 U.S. points. Delta’s Detroit hub p rovides an important link for the entire

Midwestern United States to Brazil.

B. Atlanta-Manaus

Delta seeks seven frequencies in 2011, so that it c an provide daily nonstop

service between Atlanta and Manaus. Delta’s servic e will provide the first U.S. flag

competition to Manaus, which is served nonstop from the U.S. only by Brazil’s TAM.

Atlanta is well situated in the Southeastern United States to provide convenient,

competitive, and non-circuitous Manaus connections throughout the United

States. Delta and its regional affiliates provide nonstop service from Atlanta to more

than 145 U.S. points, and operate more than 1,000 p eak day departures at the hub.

If awarded the seven frequencies it is requesting, Delta would commence

Atlanta-Manaus service, effective December 18, 2011

. Delta will utilize 124-

seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft, equipped with 12 firs t class and 112 economy class seats.

Delta's proposed nonstop service schedule, operatin g statistics, and aircraft information

are set forth in Exhibits 201-204.

# Application of Delta

Page 4

Delta asks that it be awarded seven frequencies for service in 2011, and, if

possible, that Delta’s allocation be made from the pool of Rio de Janeiro-eligible

frequencies to promote greater flexibility in adjus ting future service patterns to meet

customer demand.

III. Conclusion

Delta appreciates the Department’s success in brini ng these important new air

service rights to the U.S.-Brazil marketplace. Sho uld carrier selection proceedings be

necessary, Delta stands ready to provide additional information to establish the

comparative merits and strong public interest benef its of its Detroit-Sao Paulo and

Atlanta-Manaus service proposals.

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________ Alexander Van der Bellen

Managing Director, Government Affairs

& Associate General Counsel

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.Detroit - Sao PauloJFKLGAEWRABEGRBPIAMDWORDIADRSTMSNGRRTo ANCORFPVDBOSRICBGRPWMMHTBDLHPNPHLSANDCAPHXBWIROASWFLAXALBOKCMDTAVPBTVXNALASTULBGMCRWSCESFOITHHTSSYRELMSMFLEXEVVSDFDENROCSLCPITSTLMCICVGBUFCMHINDDAYCAKERIOMAPDXBMIDSMSEACLEMLICIDFSDFWASBNLSEMSPMKEAZOAPNCWAATWCIUDLHPLNLANFNTMBSMQTESCTVCSao PauloSource: July 2011 schedulesDTWExhibit DL-101Page 1 of 1Delta’s Detroit-Sao Paulo Service Offers ConvenientConnections from Across the Midwestern U.S. Regionand BeyondDelta’s Detroit – Sao Paulo Nonstop ScheduleProposal – Northern Hemisphere Winter SeasonDL 257DailyBoeing 767-300ERFlight NumberFrequencyEquipmentDL 256DailyBoeing 767-300ER1925085510:300730232511:05Detroit (DTW)Sao Paulo (GRU)Elapsed Time+1GMT (-5)GMT (-2)Note: All times are local. Schedule includes 5 weekly flights that Delta operates using existing U.S.-Brazil frequencies. The incremental 2 weekly flights willoperate southbound on Monday and Tuesday and northbound on Tuesday and Wednesday. The additional frequencies will be effective December 18, 2011.Exhibit DL-102Page 1 of 2+1Delta’s Detroit – Sao Paulo Nonstop ScheduleProposal – Northern Hemisphere Summer SeasonDL 257DailyBoeing 767-300ERFlight NumberFrequencyEquipmentDL 256DailyBoeing 767-300ER1950072010:300820222510:55Detroit (DTW)Sao Paulo (GRU)Elapsed Time+1+1GMT (-4)GMT (-3)Exhibit DL-102Page 2 of 2Note: All times are local. Schedule includes 5 weekly flights that Delta operates using existing U.S.-Brazil frequencies. The incremental 2 weekly flights willoperate southbound on Monday and Tuesday and northbound on Tuesday and Wednesday. The additional frequencies will be effective December 18, 2011.Annual Operating StatisticsDelta’s Detroit – Sao Paulo Nonstop Service ProposalAircraftAnnual DeparturesSegment Miles (sm)Plane Miles (sm)ASMsFuel Burn (gallons/hour)Fuel Consumption (millions of gallons)Boeing 767-300ER7305,1063,727,380779,022,4201,65812.9Statement on fuel availability: Delta anticipates no difficulty in obtaining fuelfrom its current suppliers at Detroit and Sao Paulo.BusinessEliteEconomy ComfortEconomy ClassTotal3531143209Seating ConfigurationNote: Statistics include 5 weekly flights that Delta operates using existing U.S.-Brazil frequencies.Exhibit DL-103Page 1 of 1Aircraft Statement•Delta will use aircraft on hand from among the 51 Boeing 767-300ER aircraftits fleet. These aircraft are in widespread use throughout Delta’s internationalnetwork. All of Delta’s aircraft are FAR 36 compliant.Exhibit DL-104Page 1 of 1Atlanta - ManausCLEMSNSDFJFKEWRHPNSWFABEIADPHFRICCHOBDLMHTALBMDWMSLMCOPWMECPVPSPNSMOBGPTIAHMIASFOLAXTo HNLEYWFLLPBIRSWMLBSRQTPADABPVDBOSGNVMFEEWNJAXILMLGAORFOAJMYRPHLBQKCHSBWIFAYSAVVLDDCATLHMDTSATHOURDUSYRMSYAUSLFTBTRROCGRKELPGSOTUSCAEBUFABYAEXSANROADHNPHXCLTSNAAGSONTLWBPITDFWSHVMLUABQLASJANCAKMEICRWSJCGSPMGMSMFCSGOKCTRIAVLCMHDTWFNTGTRLITCOSTULSLCXNADAYDENGRRICTFWACVGBHMPDXMEMLEXSBNJACTYSSGFATWSEAMKEINDBZNORDMCIFCAHSVOMABMIMSPMLIEVVSTLCHADSMBNAManausSource: July 2011 schedulesATLExhibit DL-201Page 1 of 1Delta’s Atlanta-Manaus Service Will Offer Connectionsfrom Across the U.S.Delta’s Atlanta – Manaus Nonstop ScheduleProposal – Northern Hemisphere Winter SeasonDL 487DailyBoeing 737-700Flight NumberFrequencyEquipmentDL 488DailyBoeing 737-700165500376:42072001306:50Atlanta (ATL)Manaus (MAO)Elapsed TimeGMT (-5)GMT (-4)Note: All times are local. Service effective December 18, 2011.Exhibit DL-202Page 1 of 2+1Delta’s Atlanta – Manaus Nonstop ScheduleProposal – Northern Hemisphere Summer SeasonDL 487DailyBoeing 737-700Flight NumberFrequencyEquipmentDL 488DailyBoeing 737-700165523346:39075401006:54Atlanta (ATL)Manaus (MAO)Elapsed TimeGMT (-4)GMT (-4)Exhibit DL-202Page 2 of 2Note: All times are local. Service effective December 18, 2011.Annual Operating StatisticsDelta’s Atlanta – Manaus Nonstop Service ProposalAircraftAnnual DeparturesSegment Miles (sm)Plane Miles (sm)ASMsFuel Burn (gallons/hour)Fuel Consumption (millions of gallons)Boeing 737-7007302,9822,176,860269,930,6407733.4Statement on fuel availability: Delta anticipates no difficulty in obtaining fuelfrom its current supplier at Atlanta or from suppliers in Manaus.First ClassEconomy ClassTotal12112124Seating ConfigurationExhibit DL-203Page 1 of 1Aircraft Statement•Delta will use aircraft on hand from among the 10 Boeing 737-700 aircraft itsfleet. These aircraft are in widespread use throughout Delta’s internationalnetwork. All of Delta’s aircraft are FAR 36 compliant.Exhibit DL-204Page 1 of 1

# CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

A copy of the foregoing Application has been serv ed this 21st day of April, 2011,

upon the following persons via email:

carl.nelson@aa.com

howard.kass@usairways.com

benjamin.slocum@usairways.com

dan.weiss@coair.com

jeffrey.manley@united.com

anbird@ fedex.com

jhill@dowlohnes.com

robert.land@jetblue.com

kevin.montgomery@polaraircargo.com

jyoung@yklaw.com

dkirstein@ yklaw.com

anita.mosner@ hklaw.com

paul.gretch@dot.gov

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov

brian.hedberg@dot.gov

brett.kruger@dot.gov

urskr@state.gov

joe.cambron@wcaa.us

louis.miller@atlanta-airport.com

info@airlineinfo.com