L\ Assistant Secretary U.S. Deportment of Transportation Office ofthe Secretary March 25, 2010 ofTransportation

The Honorable James E. Mayo Mayor ofMonroe Monroe, LA 71210 Dear Mayor Mayo: Thank you for your letter ofMarch 9 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I 

### am 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 ajoint venture 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 a review ofthe recordto determine ifit is**su~stantially** complete. Decisions onthe @plication 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 that I cannot comment onthe merits ofthe application. I can assure you, however, that DOT will give full and fair consideration to the application as well as (!,(jmments filed in the docket. As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour 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 Secretl¥'Y for Aviation and International Affairs

### S 10-1003 15-043



### OFFICE OF THE MAYOR JAMBS E. MAYO MAYOR 

### March 9,2010 318-329-2310 POSTOFFICE BOX 123 MONROE.LOUISIANA71210



### The Honorable Raymond

### H. LaHood Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation J200

### NewJersey Ave, SE " Washington, DC 20590

Docket DOT-OST-2010"--' 

### bear

### 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

,K t, 

### Airlines. The proposed alliance between these two airlines is vital for oDeworld to compete effectively with the Star and SkyTeam· alliance. This increased interal1iance ,,,"**,.~colXlpetition** 

### will in tum 

### enhance the benefits ofthe Department's Open Skies policy

­ flfst,_by solidifying U.S.-Japan Open Skies, then by serving as a foundation for 

### further liberaHzation across Asia

.

.After a thorough review, I encourage the Department ofTransportation**t~** 

### approve this ):lPplication as it would enable these oneworld alliance airlines to workclosely togetherto

deliver highly competitive air transportation services. Approval for AAlJAL 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.

# +:t.~cf James

### E. Mayo Mayor