...... 

"

, S 1 0-1 00 126-015 

Assistant Secretary 1200 New JE!llIeY Avenue. se U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590 

of Transportation 

Offioe of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

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 behalf ofSecretary LaHood. 

As you may know, the applicants-members of the Star Alliance-are seeking antitrust 

inlmunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According to the 

application, the alliance partners plan to launch a joint 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 of Transportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to i'igorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to 

determine if it 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 1 cannot 

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 our nonnal practice,! am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST -2010-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. An identical letter has been 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 New Jersey Avenue. se 

Washington. DC 20590 

Office of the Secretory 

of Transportation 

MAY 242010 

The Honorable Mark E. Udall 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Udall: 

Thank you for your letter cosigned by Senator MichaelF. Bennet supporting the application for 

antitrust immunity filed by All Nippon Airways, United Air Lines, and Continental Airlines. [ 

am responding on behalf ofSecretary LaHood. 

As you may know, theapplicants:..-members of the Star Alliance-are seeking antitrust 

immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According to the 

application. the alliance partners plan to launch a joint venture for conveyance of transpacific 

traffic. 

The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the 

opportunity to comment. The U.S. Department of Transpo11ation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to 

determine ifit is substantially complete. Decisions on the apJ1lication 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, [hope you understand that I cannot 

comment on the merits of the 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, 1 am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2010-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate 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 

-

S10-100126-015 


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

January 15, 2009 

,,. 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 


Secretary 


United States Department of Transportation 


1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.B. 


Washington, D.C. 20590 


Dear Secretary 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. DOT approval could enable these airlines 

to deliver the competitive flight schedules,fares and services consumers demand. 

Your leadership in this matter could ensure that the United States realizes the 


benefits ofthe recent Open Skies aviation agreement between the governments of the 


United State~ and Japan. The Open Skies agreement could produce significant benefits 


for consllmers, competitionahd airline employees, and it will not go into effect unless 


and until DOT grants the ATI 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 significant price 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. 

WeJhank you for your work to achieve the U.S.-Japan Open Skies agreement and 

ask that you give their application every appropriate consideration consistent with all 

applicable laws and regulations. 

Sincerely, 

Mark E. Udall' Michael F. Bennet

United States Senator United States Senator