BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_____________________________________

Application of )

)

AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC. )

) Docket OST-2010-0292

under 49 U.S.C. § 40109 for renewal of )

exemption authority between )

Baltimore, Maryland and Bermuda )

_____________________________________ )

APPLICATION OF AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC.

FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY

Communications with respect to this document should be sent to:

Bob Jordan Robert W. Kneisley

 President Associate General Counsel

AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC. Leslie C. Abbott

9955 AirTran Boulevard Senior Attorney

Orlando, FL 32827 SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

 1901 L Street, N.W., Suite 640

Washington, D.C. 20036 

 bob.kneisley@wnco.com

(202) 263-6284

September 17, 2012
1

BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_____________________________________

Application of )

)

AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC. )

) Docket OST-2010-0292

under 49 U.S.C. § 40109 for renewal of )

exemption authority between )

Baltimore, Maryland and Bermuda )

_____________________________________ )

APPLICATION OF AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC.

FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 and Subpart C of Part 302 (14 C.F.R.), AirTran 

Airways, Inc. (“AirTran”)1hereby files this Application for Renewal of Exemption with the 

Department of Transportation (“DOT” or “the Department”) to allow AirTran to continue 

to provide carriage of persons, property and mail in scheduled combination service 

between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (“BWI”) and 

Bermuda (“BDA”). By Order dated December 10, 2010, the Department originally 

granted AirTran authority to this market. 2If not renewed, the current exemption is 

scheduled to expire on December 10, 2012. To ensure no interruption of scheduled 

service, AirTran respectfully requests prompt renewal of its exemption authority for a 

minimum of two years.

3

 

1

 AirTran Airways, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co.

2

 In this same order, DOT also granted AirTran exemption authority to provide service between Atlanta 

Hartsfield International Airport (“ATL”) and BDA. However, due to market conditions, AirTran terminated 

this service in September 2011 and therefore does not seek renewal of exemption authority for this route. 

3

To the extent necessary, AirTran relies upon the automatic extension provisions of 5 U.S.C. § 558(c) to 

maintain the subject authority in effect beyond the expiration date, pending DOT action on this 

Application. 
2

Renewal of the subject exemption is in the public interest for the same reasons 

that supported the original issuance of authority for AirTran’s ATL-BDA and BWI-BDA

service. AirTran’s service has provided consumers in both of these markets with highquality, low-cost travel options and low-fare competition. AirTran provides this service 

with Stage III Boeing 737-700 aircraft configured for 137 seats. Continuation of this 

service is in the public interest. 

AirTran continues to be fit, willing and able to conduct the services described in 

this Application. The Department has granted AirTran exemption authority to provide 

service on numerous other international routes, including: MDW-CUN (Dockets OST2012-0001), SAT-MEX (OST-2011-0205), U.S.-Aruba (OST-2009-0200), U.S.-Jamaica 

(OST-2009-0201) and U.S.-Dominican Republic (OST-2010-0158). AirTran requests 

that the Department take official notice, pursuant to Rule 24 of the Department's Rules 

of Practice, of all data on file with the Department necessary to establish AirTran's 

fitness.

The requested renewal of exemption authority is fully consistent with the 1977 

Aviation Agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom, which does not 

limit U.S. carrier capacity on covered routes such as BWI-BDA. AirTran requests that 

the Department renew its authority so that it can continue to provide this service under 

the Agreement. 
3

WHEREFORE, AirTran Airways, Inc. respectfully requests renewal of its

exemption authority under 49 U.S.C. § 40109 for a minimum of two years to provide 

scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between Baltimore, 

Maryland and Bermuda.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________

Robert W. Kneisley

September 17, 2012
4

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on September 17, 2012, a copy of the foregoing was served 

via e-mail on the following persons:

msinick@ssd.com (Alaska Airlines)

robert.wirick@aa.com (American Airlines)

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com (Delta Air Lines)

robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com (Frontier Airlines)

jhill@dowlohnes.com (JetBlue Airways)

dkirstein@yklaw.com (Spirit Airlines)

John.Fredericksen@suncountry.com (Sun Country Airlines)

dan.weiss@united.com (United Air Lines)

howard_kass@usairways.com (US Airways)

pmurphy@lopmurphy.com (USA3000)

barbara.russell@virginamerica.com (Virgin America)

susan.kurland@dot.gov

paul.gretch@dot.gov

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov

brian.hedberg@dot.gov

benjamin.taylor@dot.gov

Paul Wiedefeld

Executive Director

Maryland Aviation Administration

 BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport

pwiedefeld@bwiairport.com

info@airlineinfo.com

__________________________

Leslie C. Abbott