BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
for renewal of exemption authority pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 (U.S.-China Codesharing) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) DOT-OST-1997-2653 Dockets DOT-OST-2001-9314 DOT-OST-2001-10172

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY

Communications with respect to this document should be sent to:

March 2, 2010 Alexander Van der Bellen, Managing Director, Government Affairs and Associate General Counsel Jeff Morgan Regional Director, Government Affairs DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 1212 New York Avenue, NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 842-4184 sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

NOTICE: Delta is conducting a poll on this application and will advise the Department of the results as soon as possible.BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C.

Application of

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
for renewal of exemption authority pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 (U.S.-China Codesharing) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) DOT-OST-1997-2653 Dockets DOT-OST-2001-9314 DOT-OST-2001-10172

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”) hereby applies for renewal of exemption authority
under 49 U.S.C. § 40109 to authorize Delta to continue to provide scheduled foreign air
transportation of persons, property, and mail between the United States and China via
intermediate points and beyond on a codeshare basis with China Southern Airlines
Company Limited (“China Southern”). Delta’s exemption for purposes of codesharing on
flights operated by China Southern was last renewed and amended by Notice of Action
Taken dated March 11, 2008 (Dockets DOT-OST-1997-2653, DOT-OST-2001-9314 and
DOT-OST-2001-10172) for a two year period expiring March 11, 2010. Delta requests
renewal of this exemption authority for an additional period of at least two years.
Pursuant to the exemption authority that is the subject of this renewal application,

and a codeshare statement of authorization issued to China Southern, 1 Delta displays its
designator code on flights operated by China Southern between the United States and
China, and between Delta’s authorized China gateways and points within China. Delta

1 The statement of authorization granted by Notice of Action Taken dated April 10, 2006, and amended by Notice of Action Taken dated March 11, 2008, in these dockets, continues in effect indefinitely, subject to the Department’s standard blanket codesharing conditions.Application of Delta for Renewal Page 2
continues to be fully qualified to perform these services. Delta 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 Delta’s

fitness.
Renewal of Delta’s exemption authority is in the public interest. Such authority
continues to be consistent with the aviation agreement between the United States and
China. Delta’s codesharing services on flights operated by China Southern provide
competition with U.S.-China services operated by other U.S. and foreign carriers.
Renewal of Delta’s authority will allow Delta to continue to offer these important

competitive services to consumers.
WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, Delta respectfully requests that the

Department renew Delta’s exemption authoriz ing it to continue to provide scheduled
foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between the United States and
China via intermediate points and beyond on a codeshare basis with China Southern, as
described herein, and that the Department grant such other relief it deems to be

consistent with the public interest.

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________ Alexander Van der Bellen Managing Director, Government Affairs & Associate General Counsel DELTA AIR LINES, INC.CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
A copy of the foregoing document has been served this 2nd day of March, 2010, upon the following persons via email:

carl.nelson@aa.com
dan.weiss@coair.com
hershel.kamen@coair.com rbkeiner@crowell.com (for Continental) mrosia@crowell.com (for Continental) jeffrey.manley@united.com julie.oettinger@united.com howard.kass@usairways.com benjamin.slocum@usairways.com esta.rosenberg@dot.gov
mike.orr@airlineinfo.com