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### vr It,:'Ui "I**'VI~200NewJerseyAvenue,** SE nnr\;/iTf'l Assistant Secretary j), 1:.,:,: i,J Washington, DC 20590 U.S. Department of Transportation March 25. 2010 Office ofthe Secretary ofTransportation

Mr. Dan Mann, AAE ColumbiaMetropolitan Airport 

### P.O. Box 280037 Columbia, SC 29228-0037 Dear Mr. Mann: Thank youfor your letter ofFebruary 24 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. Iam responding on behalfofSecretary LaHood. As you may know, the applicants-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 ajointventure for conveyance oftranspacific 

### traffic. The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the opportunity to comment. The U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with areview ofthe record to determine ifit is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation with the U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrus,t Division following a thorough analysis of competitive factors. As this matter is now pending, I hope you understand that I cannot comment on the merits ofthe application. Ican assure you, however, that DOT will give full and fair consideration to the application as well as any comments filed in the docket. As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST

-2010-" 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 InternationalAffairs

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# COLlTMBIA METROPOLITAN AIRPORT

February 24, 2010

The Honorable Raymond H. laHood Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation

. 1200 NewJersey Ave, SE

Washington, DC 20590 Docket**DOT-OST~2010-_** Dear Mr. Secretary: Thank you forthe opportunity to express my support forthe application for antitrust immunity and proposed joint business agreement filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The proposed alliance between these two airlines is vital forthe oheworld alliance to compete effectivelywith the Star and SkyTeam alliances. This increased alliance competition will in turnenhance the benefits ofthe Department's Open Skies policy- first by solidifying U.S.
- Japan Open Skies, then by serving as a .. foundation forfurther liberalization across Asia. After a thorough review, I encourage the Department ofTransportation to approve this application as it would enable theseoneworld alliance airlines to work closely togetherto deliver highly competitive air transportation services. Approval forAA/JAL alliance will have a positive impact on airtravel by offering customers more service, scheduling and pricing options and will help to ensure that customers continue to benefitfrom the competition afforded by three competitive air alliances. I urge you to quickly approve this application. Sincerely,

Dan Mann, AAE Columbia Metropolitan Airport PO Box 280037 Columbia, SC**29228~037** d.mann@columbiaalrport.com

P.o. Box 2800:n • Columbia. Soulh Corolina 29228-0037 803.822.5010. Tlill Free**1·388~562-5002·** Fax 80:3-822c 51 L H www.!'o\umhinuil'port.eom