BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Joint Application and Notice of :

:

GOJET AIRLINES, L.L.C. : Docket DOT-OST-2012-xxxx

MESA AIRLINES, INC. :

SHUTTLE AMERICA CORP. :

SKYWEST AIRLINES, INC. :

:

for Statements of Authorization pursuant to :

14 C.F.R. Part 212 (COPA Code Share) :

--------------------------------------------------------------

JOINT APPLICATION OF GOJET, MESA, SHUTTLE AMERICA AND SKYWEST FOR 

STATEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION AND JOINT BLANKET CODE-SHARE NOTICE 

Communications with respect to this document should be sent to:

Hershel I. Kamen

Senior Vice President–Alliances,

 Regulatory and Policy

Steve Morrissey

Managing Director–Regulatory Affairs

 and Policy

UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

1225 New York Avenue, NW

Suite 1100-DCAIZ

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 521-4400

hershel.kamen@united.com

steve.morrissey@united.com

Daniel A. Weiss

Managing Director–International Affairs and 

Regulatory

UNITED AIR LINES, INC. 

77 West Wacker Drive

10th Floor HDQIZ

Chicago, IL 60601

(312) 997-7573

dan.weiss@united.com

Thomas Newton Bolling

Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

Jonathan T. Linde

Managing Director and Senior CounselRegulatory

UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

77 West Wacker Drive

16th Floor HDQLD

Chicago, IL 60601

(312) 997-8068

thomas.bolling@united.com

jonathan.linde@united.com

John R. Mietus, Jr.

Law Office of John Mietus, LLC

6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 300

Bethesda, MD 20817-7500

(202) 747-5212

john@mietuslaw.com

Counsel for COPA

July 17, 2012

NOTICE: The Joint Applicants request expedited treatment of this application. United, in filing this 

application on their behalf, will poll U.S. carrier representatives and advise the Department of the results. 
BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Joint Application and Notice of :

:

GOJET AIRLINES, L.L.C. : Docket DOT-OST-2012-xxxx

MESA AIRLINES, INC. :

SHUTTLE AMERICA CORP. :

SKYWEST AIRLINES, INC. :

:

for Statements of Authorization pursuant to :

14 C.F.R. Part 212 (COPA Code Share) :

--------------------------------------------------------------

JOINT APPLICATION OF GOJET, MESA, SHUTTLE AMERICA AND SKYWEST FOR 

STATEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION AND JOINT BLANKET CODE-SHARE NOTICE 

GoJet, Mesa, Shuttle America, and SkyWest1d/b/a United Express (collectively, “Joint 

Applicants”) jointly apply for blanket statements of authorization pursuant to Part 212 of the 

Department’s regulations to facilitate code-share services with COPA, which is a code-share 

partner of United.2 Specifically, the Joint Applicants request authorization to display COPA’s 

“CM” designator code on flights operated by them as United Express carriers between points in 

the United States and between U.S. points and points in third countries. The Joint Applicants 

wish to begin code-share services with as soon as all regulatory approvals are obtained. The 

Joint Applicants respectfully request the Department’s prompt approval of this application so 

that the marketing and sale of code-share services by United and COPA can begin without delay. 

In order to expedite approval of this application, United will poll carrier representatives on 

behalf of the Joint Applicants and COPA and advise the Department of the results. 

 

1 Common names are used for airlines.

2 United is filing this application on behalf of and with the permission of the Joint Applicants.
Joint Application and Notice

Page 2

In addition, pursuant to the Department’s Notice In the Matter of Blanket Notification of 

Code-Share Service to Open-Skies Partners and Points, dated February 9, 2009, the Joint 

Applicants, together with COPA, hereby give blanket notice of code-share services displaying 

COPA’ designator code on flights operated by the Joint Applicants between all U.S. points and 

between U.S. points and points in any open-skies country.3 Code-share services conducted 

pursuant to this notice will be limited to those consistent with the provisions of the U.S.-Panama

and other Open-Skies Agreements. The Joint Applicants and COPA will provide the Department 

with 30-day notices for code-share services to and from non-open skies countries.

In support of this Application, the Joint Applicants state as follows:

1. The Joint Applicants entered into code-share arrangements with COPA, each of 

which provides for their operation of certain United Express flights to carry the “CM” designator 

code. Redacted copies of these code-share agreements are attached hereto. 

2. The Joint Applicants are air carriers holding certificates of public convenience 

and necessity and exemptions authorizing them to operate scheduled air services in the United 

States and foreign markets.4 They are also participants in the United Express commuter 

program, operating code-share services for United and displaying United’s designator code, as 

well as those of certain of United’s foreign code-share partners. As such, United and its United 

Express carriers wish to make these United Express services available for code-share purposes to 

COPA, thereby increasing the online service offerings between United’s North American 

network and COPA’s Latin America network.

 

3 To the extent necessary, the Joint Applicants will obtain any necessary authorizations prior to 

commencing service in any third country on behalf of United Express.
Joint Application and Notice

Page 3

3. The requested code-share authorizations are fully consistent with the U.S.-

Panama Open Skies Agreement, as well as the Department’s precedents in cases involving 

similar code-share arrangements between U.S. and foreign air carriers.5 Pursuant to the terms of 

such agreements, foreign carriers designated by their respective governments to serve the United 

States, such as COPA, have been authorized to provide foreign air transportation (including 

code-share services) between the United States and their respective home countries. COPA also 

holds the requisite underlying economic authority for purposes of holding out the code-share 

services proposed with the Joint Applicants.

6

 

4. The requested code-share authority is also consistent with the public interest 

because it will benefit the traveling and shipping public by providing online service between 

U.S. cities and points around the globe, via United’s domestic hubs and COPA’s U.S. gateways. 

5. Each of the Joint Applicants agrees to accept the Department’s standard 

conditions and notice requirements imposed on code-share arrangements. 

6. The Joint Applicants request that the Department issue statements of authorization 

for an indefinite period, consistent with Department practice.

7. The Joint Applicants are not CRAF participants, so issuance of the requested 

blanket statements of authorization will not affect the CRAF program.

For the foregoing reasons, the Joint Applicants respectfully request expedited approval of 

this application and that the Department grant them the blanket statements of authorization as 

 

4

See, for example, Order 2011-12-18 and Notice of Action Taken dated December 9, 2011 in Docket 

DOT-OST-2009-0348 (GoJet); Orders 1998-11-15, 2008-4-26 and 2009-3-16 (Shuttle America); Orders 

1998-7-6 and 2008-4-26 (Mesa); and Orders 1998-7-6 and 2008-4-26 (SkyWest). 

5

See, Dockets DOT-OST-2007-28500, -2007-28788, -2007-29161 and -2007-29353 in which the 

Department approved similar code-sharing arrangements between various United Express operators and 

foreign carrier partners, among others. 

6 See, Order 98-3-16 and renewal application pending in Docket DOT-OST-1997-2675.
Joint Application and Notice

Page 4

described above for an indefinite period, consistent with the Department’s practice in other codeshare proceedings, and such other relief as the Department may deem appropriate. 

Respectfully submitted,

 

John R. Mietus, Jr. Dan Weiss

Counsel for COPA Managing Director – International and

 Regulatory Affairs

UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

Submitted on behalf of:

David J. A. Hayes III, Esq.

For GOJET AIRLINES, L.L.C. 

Vice President and General Counsel

Trans States Holdings, Inc.

11495 Navaid Road

St. Louis, MO 63044

Chris Pappaioanou

For MESA AIRLINES, INC.

Vice President and General Counsel

410 N. 44th Street, Suite 700

Phoenix, AZ 85008

Scott Durgin

For SHUTTLE AMERICA CORP.

Vice President – Administration

8909 Purdue Road, Suite 300

Indianapolis, IN 46268

Todd C. Emerson

For SKYWEST AIRLINES, INC.

Director–Government and Legal Affairs

444 South River Road

St. George, UT 84790
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that I have this date served a copy of the foregoing document on all 

persons named below by causing a copy to be sent via email: 

mssinick@ssd.com (Alaska)

carl.nelson@aa.com

francis.heil@aa.com

james.kaleigh@aa.com

robert.wirick@aa.com

rsilverberg@sgbdc.com (ABX)

tom.fosko@airtransport.cc (Air Transport Intl.)

jrichardson@johnlrichardson.com (Amerijet)

jcanny@amerijet.com

lachter@starpower.net (ASTAR)

rpommer@atlasair.com

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

charters@evergreenairlines.com (Evergreen)

cefelts@fedex.com

anbird@fedex.com

nssparks@fedex.com

robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com

patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com

jhill@dowlohnes.com (Hawaiian/JetBlue)

matwood@cozen.com (Kalitta)

kevin.montgomery@polaraircargo.com

bob.kneisley@wnco.com

leslie.abbott@wnco.com

dkirstein@yklaw.com (Spirit)

jyoung@yklaw.com (Spirit)

john.fredericksen@suncountry.com

anita.mosner@hklaw.com (UPS)

howard.kass@usairways.com

jegillick@zsrlaw.com (Virgin America)

john.varley@virginamerica.com

mlbenge@zsrlaw.com (World)

william.stallings@usdoj.gov

dwight.moore@ustranscom.mil

john.allen@faa.gov

Annalei Avanceña 

International Regulatory Advisor

United Air Lines, Inc.

July 17, 2012