BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_________________________________________

)

Application of )

)

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2014-____

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) )

)

For an Exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 )

(Guadalajara, Mexico- Dallas/Fort Worth, )

Texas; Cancun, Mexico - Dallas/Fort Worth, )

Texas; Monterrey - Dallas/Fort Worth, )

Texas; and San Jose del Cabo - Dallas/Fort )

Worth, Texas) )

)

And Amendment to Foreign Air Carrier )

Permit )

__________________________________________)

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V.

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR AN EXEMPTION AND

AMENDMENT TO FOREIGN AIR CARRIER PERMIT

Communications concerning this document should be addressed to:

David M. Kirstein

Joanne W. Young

KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC

1750 K Street N.W.

Suite 200

Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 331-3348 (telephone)

(202) 331-3933 (facsimile)

Counsel for

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

September 11, 2014

NOTICE: The Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. has requested expedited treatment of 

this application. We will poll U.S. carrier representatives and inform the 

Department of the results.
BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_________________________________________

)

Application of )

)

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2014-____

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) )

)

For an Exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 )

(Guadalajara, Mexico- Dallas/Fort Worth, )

Texas; Cancun, Mexico - Dallas/Fort Worth, )

Texas; Monterrey - Dallas/Fort Worth, )

Texas; and San Jose del Cabo - Dallas/Fort )

Worth, Texas) )

)

And Amendment to Foreign Air Carrier )

Permit )

_________________________________________ )

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V.

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR AN EXEMPTION AND

AMENDMENT TO FOREIGN AIR CARRIER PERMIT

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109(c), Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

(“vivaAerobus”), a Mexican air carrier, respectfully applies for exemption authority from the 

provisions of 49 U.S.C. § 41301, authorizing it to engage in scheduled foreign air transport of 

persons, property and mail between Guadalajara, Cancun, Monterrey and San Jose del Cabo, 

Mexico on the one hand, and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas on the other. vivaAerobus plans to 

institute services to these Texas points in December 2014. 

In addition, vivaAerobus respectfully requests that the Department amend its foreign air 

carrier permit to integrate the exemption authority requested herein and vivaAerobus’s existing 

exemption authority (as described below) to eliminate the need to apply for repeated renewals of 

the exemption authority.
Application of vivaAerobus

GDL-DFW; CUN-DFW; MTY-DFW; SJD-DFW Exemptions

Page 2 of 4

In support of this Application, vivaAerobus states as follows:

1. vivaAerobus was established in November 2006 as the first low-cost Mexican air 

carrier and is currently serving the Monterrey, Mexico - Houston, Texas market and the Cancun, 

Mexico-Houston, Texas market.

2. Beginning in December 2014, vivaAerobus plans to operate: (1) four weekly

nonstop roundtrip flights between Guadalajara and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas on a year-round 

basis; (2) four weekly nonstop roundtrip flights between Cancun and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 

on a year round basis; (3) daily roundtrip flights between Monterrey and Dallas/Fort Worth, 

Texas on a year round basis; and (4) daily roundtrip flights between San Jose del Cabo and 

Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas on a year round basis. The proposed services will generate significant 

benefits for the traveling and shipping public.

3. vivaAerobus has been found fit, willing and able to provide foreign air 

transportation and currently holds a foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled service of 

foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between: 1) Monterrey, Mexico and 

Orlando, Florida; 2) Monterrey, Mexico and Miami, Florida; 3) Guadalajara, Mexico and 

Houston, Texas; 4) Guadalajara, Mexico and San Antonio, Texas; 5) Monterrey, Mexico and Las 

Vegas, Nevada; 6) Monterrey, Mexico and Houston, Texas; 7) Monterrey, Mexico and San 

Antonio, Texas; 8) Monterrey, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois; and 9) Guadalajara, Mexico and 

Las Vegas, Nevada; (10) Cancun, Mexico and Houston, Texas; and Charter foreign air 

transportation of persons, property and mail between Mexico and the United States.
Application of vivaAerobus

GDL-DFW; CUN-DFW; MTY-DFW; SJD-DFW Exemptions

Page 3 of 4

4. The Mexican DGCA has authorized vivaAerobus to provide service between 

Guadalajara, Cancun, Monterrey and San Jose Del Cabo, on the one hand and Dallas/Fort Worth, 

Texas on the other hand. See attached authorizations/designations.

5. vivaAerobus currently operates Boeing 737-300 and Airbus 320 aircraft, and is 

presently transitioning to an all A320 fleet. Mexico is a contracting state to the Convention on 

International Civil Aviation (“ICAO”) and observes all applicable ICAO standards. This 

exemption application does not raise any environmental or energy issues because approval of this 

request will not result in an increase in fuel consumption of ten million gallons or more in the 

near future.

6. The requested authority is covered by the U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement. 

On December 12, 2005, the Governments of the United States and Mexico signed an amendment 

to the bilateral agreement broadening air transport services between the two countries and 

permitting designated Mexican carriers to operate from a “point or points in Mexico to a point or 

points in the United States” subject to limitations on the number of designations per market. 

vivaAerobus’s proposed services are within the scope of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral. The abovereferenced routes are available for service by a Mexican carrier pursuant to Annex I Paragraph 

B.5 of the 2005 Amendment.

7. Grant of the exemptions is consistent with the public interest. vivaAerobus’s 

scheduled operations will increase competition in U.S.-Mexico markets and provide low-cost 

travel options to passengers.

8. Integration of vivaAerobus’s exemption authority with its permit authority in an 

amended foreign air carrier permit is consistent with the Department’s goals to streamline its 
Application of vivaAerobus

GDL-DFW; CUN-DFW; MTY-DFW; SJD-DFW Exemptions

Page 4 of 4

carrier licensing procedures. See In the Matter of Streamlining Regulatory Procedures For 

Licensing U.S. and Foreign Air Carriers, Docket OST-2005-22228 (August 25, 2008).

WHEREFORE, vivaAerobus respectfully requests the Department grant it exemptions

from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 as well as such other and further relief as the Department may deem 

necessary to allow vivaAerobus to engage in scheduled foreign air transport of persons, property

and mail between Guadalajara, Cancun, Monterrey and San Jose del Cabo, Mexico on the one 

hand, and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas on the other.

Respectfully Submitted,

David M. Kirstein

Joanne W. Young

KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC

1750 K Street N.W.

Suite 200

Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 331-3348 (telephone)

Counsel for 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

September 11, 2014
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on this 11th day of September 2014, a copy of the foregoing 

Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. for an exemption from provisions of 

49 U.S.C. § 41301was served by email on the parties named below:

gmurphy@crowell.com 

dan.weiss@united.com 

steve.morrissey@united.com 

anita.mosner@hklaw.com 

jennifer.nowak@hklaw.com 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com 

chris.walker@delta.com

jrichardson@johnlrichardson.com 

jCanny@amerijet.com 

cefelts@fedex.com 

Chuck.Hill@airtransport.cc

robert.wirick@aa.com 

howard.kass@aa.com

francis.heil@aa.com

john.s.duncan@faa.gov

agoerlich@ggh-airlaw.com 

rsilverberg@sgbdc.com 

jjohnson@sgbdc.com

brian.hedberg@dot.gov

brett.kruger@dot.gov

marshall.sinick@squirepb.com 

dwight.moore@ustranscom.mil

rpommer@atlasair.com 

matwood@cozen.com 

jhill@cooley.com

thomas.Ting@suncountry.com 

john@mietuslaw.com 

mgoldman@sgbdc.com

kevin.montgomery@ polaraircargo.com 

peter.beckett@polaraircargo.com

stephen.lachter@lachterlaw.com

reese.davidson@dot.gov

robert.finamore@dot.gov

bob.kneisley@wnco.com

leslie.abbott@wnco.com

robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com

patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com

barbara.russell@virginamerica.com

john.varley@virginamerica.com

pmurphy@lopmurphy.com

englets@state.gov

Robert.Land@jetblue.com

perkmann@cooley.com

__________________________

 David M. Kirstein