......


# ", 

### S 1 0-100 126-015

1200 NewJE!llIeY Avenue. se Assistant Secretary U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590 ofTransportation Offioe ofthe Secretary ofTransportation 

### MAY 2· 4 

### 2010

The Honorable Michael F. Bennet United States Senate Washington. DC 20510 Dear Senator Bennet: Thank you for your letter cosigned by Senator Mark E. Udall supporting the application for antitrust iinmunity filed by All Nippon Airways, United Air Lines, and Continental Airlines. am responding on behalfofSecretary LaHood. As you may know, the applicants-membersofthe Star Alliance-are seeking antitrust inlmunity to closely coordinate flights between the UnitedStates and Asia. According to the application, the alliance partners planto 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 i'igorous statutory standards, beginning with a review oftherecord to determine ifit is substantially complete. Decisions on the application 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 1cannot comment on the merits ofthe application. I can assure yOll, however, that DOT will give full and fair consideration to the application as weU as any comments filed in the docket. As is ournonnal practice,! am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2010-0059 as a contactoutside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in this proceeding. An identicalletterhasbeen sent to Senator Udall. Sincerely yours,

Susan 

### L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

# - S10-100126-015

U.S. Department of Transportation . Assistant**Secr~tary** 1200 NewJersey Avenue. se Washington. DC 20590 Office of the Secretory ofTransportation 

### MAY 

## 242010

The Honorable Mark E. Udall United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Udall: Thank you for your letter cosigned by SenatorMichaelF. Bennet supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by All Nippon Airways, United Air Lines, and Continental Airlines. [ 

### am responding on behalfofSecretary LaHood. As you may know, theapplicants:..-members ofthe Star Alliance-are seeking antitrust immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States andAsia. 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 ofTranspo11ation (DOT) will evaluate the application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to determine if

### it is substantially complete. Decisions on the apJ1lication are made in consultation with the U.S. Department ofJustice'sAntitrust Divisionfollowing a thorough analysis of competitive factors. As this matter is now pending, [hopeyou understand that Icannot comment on the merits ofthe application. I can assure you, however, that DOT will give full and fair consideration to the application as well as any comments filed in the docket. As is our normal practice, 1am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2010-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. Iappreciate your interest in this proceeding. An identical letter has been sent to Senator Bennet. Sincerely yours,

Susan 

### L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

# - S 10-100126-015 

# 'llnitro**~tat~s ~tnatt**  WASHINGTON, DC 20510



### January 15, 2009

,,. 

### The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood Secretary United States Department ofTransportation 1200New Jersey Avenue, S.B. Washington, D.C. 20590
DearSecretary LaHood: We are writing to express oUl'strong support for the antitrust immunity (ATI) application filed by United Airlines, Continental and All Nippon Airways (ANA) with the U.S. Department ofTrarisportation (DOn. DOTapproval could enable these airlines to deliverthe competitive flight schedules,fares and services consumers demand. Your leadership in this mattercould ensure that the United States realizes the benefits ofthe recent Open Skies aviation agreement between the governments ofthe United**State~** 

### and Japan. The Open Skies agreement couldproduce significant benefits for consllmers, competitionahd airline employees, and it will not gointo effectunless and until DOT grants the A TI request. 

## '. In this challenging economic environment, our airlines need to pursue all opportunities to allow them and the communities they serve to stay competitive in an

,increasingly global marketplace. Approval ofthisappllcation can allow these airlines to

generate significantprice and service benefits for consumers, preserve and enhance service to communities throughout the United States, and compete more effectively with other international airlines and alliances. WeJhankyou for yourworkto achieve the U.S.-Japan Open Skies agreement and askthat you give their applicationevery appropriate consideration consistent with all applicable laws and regulations. Sincerely,

Michael F. Bennet MarkE. Udall' United States Senator United States Senator