1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Assistant Secretary U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation Office ofthe Secretary 

### APR 0,2 2010 ofTransportation

The Honorable Glenn Coffee President Pro Tempore Oklahoma State Senate Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Dear Senator Coffee: Thank: you for your letter ofMarch 8 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by
"'American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding onbehalfofSecretary LaHood.

As youmay know, the applicants-members ofthe oneworld 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 ajointventure 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 rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review oftherecord to detennineifitis substantially complete. Decisions onthe 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 I cannot ' comment onthe merits ofthe application. I can assure you, however, that DOTwill give full and fair consideration to the application as well as any comments filed inthe docket. As is our nonnal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response inDocket DOT-OST-2010-0059 as a contact outside the record inthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this proceeding. Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

### SI0-J00323-016 

# ®kla4nma**~tat.e ~£uat:e**  Glenn Coffee President 

### Pro Tempore

March 8; 2010

The Honorable Raymond

### H. Lahood Secretary, 

## u.s. Dl?pt. 

### of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washil'lgton, DC 20590 Docket ooT-OST-201O
...... Dear Mr. Secretary, Thankyou for the opportunity to express**my'~upp6rt for'i:h~'apprkation**  for antitrust immunity and proposed jointbusiness agreement filed 

## by**Am~ri~an** Airlines and Japan AirUnes. The proposed alliance between these two airlines is vital for the onewCitld alliance to compete effectively with the Starand SkyTeam aHiances. Thisi'ricreased alliance competition willin tum enhance the benefits ofthe Department's Open Skies policy- first by solidifying U.S.

­ Japan Open Skies, then by serving as a foundation for further liberalization across Asia. After a thorough review I encourage the Department ofTransportation to approve this application as it would enable these oneworld alliance airlines to work closely together to deliverhighly competitive air transportation services. Approval for ANJAL alliance will have a positive impact on air travel by offering customers more service, scheduling and pricing options and 

### will help to ensure that customers continue tobenefit from competition afforded by three competitive air alliances. I urge you to quickly approve this application.

Am 422 State Capitol *Oklahoma City, OK 7$106-4608· (405) 521-5536· FAX: (405) 530-2304· a-mail: colfee@oI<senat&.gov