\\DC - 040601/000001 - 6256486 v1 BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC. for an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 (Miami, Florida – Cozumel, Mexico) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Docket DOT-OST-2014-______

APPLICATION OF REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC. FOR EXEMPTION AUTHORITY
Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

Ethan J. Blank Vice President and General Counsel Scott L. Durgin Vice President, Administration REPUBLIC AIRWAYS HOLDINGS INC. 8909 Purdue Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46268 Robert E. Cohn Patrick R. Rizzi HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP Columbia Square 555 Thirteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 +1 202 637 4999/5659 robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com Counsel for REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC.

November 21, 2014\\DC - 040601/000001 - 6256486 v1 BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC. for an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 (Miami, Florida – Cozumel, Mexico) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Docket DOT-OST-2014-_____
November 21, 2014

APPLICATION OF REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC. FOR EXEMPTION AUTHORITY Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 and Subpart C of the Department’s Rules of Practice, Republic Airline Inc. (“Republic”) hereby applies for an operating carrier designation and an exemption authorizing it to provide scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between Miami, Florida, and Cozumel, Mexico. Republic requests that its exemption authority be granted as soon as possible and remain in effect for a period of at least two years, subject to the Department’s standard conditions. In addition, Republic requests that the Department notify the Mexican authorities confirming Republic’s authority to serve this route. In support of its Application, Republic states as follows: 1. Republic is a U.S. airline providing scheduled interstate air transportation pursuant to a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity issued by DOT Order 2009-9-13. Republic also has Open Skies certificateApplication of Republic Airline Inc. Page 2

\\DC - 040601/000001 - 6256486 v1 authority and various exemption authorities for scheduled foreign air transportation. See DOT Order 2008-4-26 (Route 882); Notice of Action Taken, dated December 27, 2013 (Docket DOT-OST-2012-0026) (U.S.–Turks and Caicos Islands); Notice of Action Taken, dated December 10, 2012 (Docket DOT-OST-2011-0018) (U.S.–Bahamas). 2. Republic plans to begin daily year-round nonstop “American Eagle” service under the AA* designator code of American Airlines, Inc. (“American”) with 76-seat EMB 175 aircraft in June 2015 between Miami, Florida (MIA), and Cozumel International Airport, Cozumel, Mexico (CZM). 1
3. Approval of this Application is in the public interest. Republic’s proposed service will provide U.S. communities and travelers with enhanced options for service to Cozumel, as well as competition to other carriers offering transborder U.S.–Mexico services. This flight to Cozumel will benefit travelers not only in the Miami metropolitan area, but also throughout the United States given the extensive connecting opportunities at American’s major Miami hub. 4. Republic is fit, willing, and able to perform the proposed MIA–CZM service. As noted above, Republic has had authority to operate scheduled interstate and foreign air service, including routes between the United States and

1 American is already authorized to provide service between Miami and Cozumel by Notice of Action Taken, dated August 16, 2013 (Docket DOT-OST-2013-0154).Application of Republic Airline Inc. Page 3

\\DC - 040601/000001 - 6256486 v1 points in Mexico. See, e.g., Notice of Action Taken, dated June 23, 2010 (Docket DOT-OST-2010-0152). Its proposed service to Cozumel is not materially different in terms of aircraft size or stage length from its previously authorized interstate and foreign air services.
5. Republic requests that the Department take official notice, pursuant to Rule 24 of the Department’s Rules of Practice, of all other data on file with the Department necessary to establish its fitness. 6. The exemption authority and designations sought herein are fully consistent with the U.S.–Mexico Air Transport Services Agreement, as amended (“the Agreement”). Annex I(A) of the Agreement authorizes carriers designated by the U.S. under Route 1(a) to operate from “a point or points in the United States to a point or points in Mexico”, and Annex I(B)(5) permits the U.S. to designate three U.S. carriers to operate scheduled combination services between any point in the U.S. and Cozumel. Based on information and belief, there are available designations for this route. 7. The Miami–Cozumel services proposed in this Application are not projected to utilize more than 10 million gallons of fuel annually, and, in any event, Republic does not envision having any difficulties in acquiring fuel for this service.Application of Republic Airline Inc. Page 4

\\DC - 040601/000001 - 6256486 v1 WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, Republic respectfully requests that the Department promptly grant an operating carrier designation and the requested exemption authorizing it to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between Miami and Cozumel, Mexico, as described herein.

Respectfully submitted,

__________________________________ Robert E. Cohn Patrick R. Rizzi HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP Columbia Square 555 Thirteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 Counsel for REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC.\\DC - 040601/000001 - 6256486 v1 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing Application of Republic Airline Inc. for an Exemption has been served this 21 st day of November, 2014, upon each of the following addressees:
marshall.sinick@squirepb.com; howard.kass@aa.com; robert.wirick@aa.com; sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com; chris.walker@delta.com ; matwood@cozen.com; stephen.lachter@lachterlaw.com; jhill@cooley.com; perkmann@cooley.com; bob.kneisley@wnco.com; leslie.abbott@wnco.com; dkirstein@yklaw.com; jyoung@yklaw.com; thomas.ting@suncountry.com; dan.weiss@united.com; steve.morrissey@united.com; barbara.russell@virginamerica.com; brian.hedberg@dot.gov; brett.kruger@dot.gov; englets@state.gov; info@airlineinfo.com

Patrick Rizzi