BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_____________________________________

Application of )

)

AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC. )

) Docket No. OST-2010-0158

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

exemption authority to engage in foreign )

scheduled air transportation of persons, )

property and mail between the United States )

and the Dominican Republic )

_____________________________________ )

APPLICATION OF AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC.

FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION

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

May 29, 2012

NOTICE: Any person may file an answer to this Application in this docket and 

served on the persons listed above, on or before June 13, 2012. AIRTRAN WILL 

POLL THE U.S. CARRIERS ON THE ATTACHED SERVICE LIST REGARDING THIS 

APPLICATION AND WILL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE RESULTS AS 

SOON AS POSSIBLE.
1

BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_____________________________________

Application of )

)

AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC. )

) Docket No. OST-2010-0158

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

exemption authority to engage in foreign )

scheduled air transportation of persons, )

property and mail between the United States )

and the Dominican Republic )

_____________________________________ )

APPLICATION OF AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC.

FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTION

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109, AirTran Airways, Inc. (“AirTran”)1hereby applies 

for renewal of exemption authority to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of 

persons, property, and mail between a point or points in the United States and a point or 

points in the Dominican Republic. The Department of Transportation (“DOT”) originally

awarded this exemption authority to AirTran by Notice of Action Taken (“NOAT”) on July 

8, 2010 in this Docket. The current exemption is scheduled to expire on July 8, 2012.2

To ensure no interruption of scheduled service, AirTran respectfully requests prompt 

renewal of its exemption authority for a minimum of two years. 

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

that supported the original issuance of authority for AirTran to provide service between 

 

1

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

2

To the extent necessary, AirTran requests a waiver from 14 CFR § 377.10(c) and 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

the United States and the Dominican Republic. AirTran currently serves Punta Cana 

(“PUJ”) year-round with daily service from Atlanta (“ATL”) and has provided consumers

with high-quality, low-cost travel options and low-fare competition in this market using 

Stage III Boeing 737-700 aircraft configured for 137 seats. AirTran’s U.S. – Dominican 

Republic service is in the public interest. 

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

this Application. In fact, the Department recently granted AirTran exemption authority to 

provide service in several other international markets including MDW-CUN, SAT-MEX, 

and SNA-SJD. See Dockets OST-2012-0001 (MDW-CUN) and OST-2011-0205 (SATMEX and SNA-SJD). 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 terms of 

the aviation agreement between the United States and the Dominican Republic. As the 

Department found in its July 8, 2010 NOAT granting AirTran’s original Dominican 

Republic exemption request, “the authority granted is consistent with the aviation 

agreement between the United States and the Dominican Republic of 1986 and the 

overall state of aviation relations between the United States and the Dominican 

Republic.” 

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 a point or 

points in the United States and a point or points in the Dominican Republic. 
3

Respectfully submitted,

______________________

Robert W. Kneisley

May 29, 2012
4

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on May 29, 2012, a copy of the foregoing was served via email on the following persons:

msinick@ssd.com (Alaska Airlines)

carl.nelson@aa.com (American Airlines)

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

robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com (Frontier Airlines)

patrick.rizzi@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)

ben.slocum@usairways.com (US Airways)

pmurphy@lopmurphy.com (USA3000)

jegillick@zsrlaw.com (Virgin America)

barbara.russell@virginamerica.com (Virgin America)

susan.kurland@dot.gov

paul.gretch@dot.gov

brian.hedberg@dot.gov

brett.kruger@dot.gov

info@airlineinfo.com

__________________________

Leslie C. Abbott