BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

__________________________________________

)

Application of )

)

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LIMITED ) DOCKET OST-2003-14493

)

for renewal of exemption authority )

(Hong Kong-United States) )

__________________________________________)

APPLICATION OF CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LIMITED

FOR RENEWAL OF AN EXEMPTION

Communications with respect to this document should be sent to:

John R. Mietus, Jr.

LAW OFFICE OF JOHN MIETUS, LLC

6701 Democracy Boulevard Ste 300

Bethesda, Maryland 20817

(202) 747-5212

john@mietuslaw.com

Counsel for CATHAY PACIFIC

NOTICE: Any person may support or oppose this application by filing an answer and 

serving a copy of the answer on counsel for Cathay Pacific and upon persons 

served with this application no later than March 27, 2015.

March 12, 2015
BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

__________________________________________

)

Application of )

)

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LIMITED ) DOCKET OST-2003-14493

) March 12, 2015

for renewal of exemption authority )

(Hong Kong-United States) )

__________________________________________)

APPLICATION OF CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LIMITED

FOR RENEWAL OF AN EXEMPTION

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109(c), Cathay Pacific Airways Limited

("Cathay") respectfully requests renewal of the above-captioned exemption,

granted by Notice of Action Taken dated March 20, 2014 (the “Notice”), for an 

additional, one-year period. The Notice permits Cathay to engage in: (1)

scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between

Hong Kong, via intermediate points, to a point or points in the United States,

as coterminal points, and beyond; (2) scheduled foreign air transportation of

property and mail between Hong Kong, via intermediate points, to a point or

points in the United States, as coterminal points, and beyond; and (3) charter

foreign air transportation subject to Part 212 of the Department’s

regulations. Cathay intends to invoke the automatic extension provisions of 5 

U.S.C. § 558(c) and Part 377 of the Department's Special Regulations. In

support of this application, Cathay states as follows:
Cathay Pacific

Application

Page 2

1. Cathay is a flag carrier of the Hong Kong Special Administrative

Region ("HKSAR") and currently holds permit and exemption authority

which authorizes it to operate combination and all-cargo service between

Hong Kong and the United States. Pursuant to that authority, Cathay

provides extensive service between Hong Kong and the U.S. with Boeing

B747 and B777 aircraft.

2. By this application, Cathay seeks renewal for an additional year of

the above-captioned Hong Kong-U.S. exemption authority, which is scheduled

to expire on March 20, 2015. Cathay currently provides multiple weekly

nonstop combination and freighter services between Hong Kong and a

number of U.S. gateways. These services provide significant benefits to the

traveling and shipping public.

3. Under the October 19, 2002, Memorandum of Understanding

between Hong Kong and the U.S. (“MOU”), a carrier designated by the

HKSAR Government is entitled to operate combination and/or all-cargo

service from Hong Kong via certain intermediate points to “a point or points

in the United States.” Cathay has been designated by the HKSAR

government to serve the relevant routes.

4. Under 49 U.S.C. § 40109(c), the Department may grant an 

exemption if it finds that a grant is consistent with the public interest. 

Designation of a carrier by its homeland government is the most significant 

factor in determining whether grant of an application is in the public 
Cathay Pacific 

Application 

Page 3 

interest. S ee, e.g., Bluebird Cargo Ltd. , Order 2004-8-24 at 3-4; Fast Air 

Carrier Ltda., Permit Amendment, Order 82-2-66 at 3-4. Given Cathay's 

designation by the HKSAR government, such a public interest finding is 

warranted. Moreover, the benefits which its service gener ate for business 

travelers, tourists, and shippers alike further demonstrate that renewal of 

the exemption is con sistent with t he public interest. 

WHEREFORE, Cath ay Pacific Airways Limited respectfully requests 

th at the Department renew the above-captioned exemption and grant such 

other relief as may be necessary or proper. 

March 12, 2015 

Respectfully submitted, 

J;<~::~~ LAW OFFICE OF JOHN MIETUS, LLC 

6701 Democracy Boulevard Ste 300 

Bethesda, Maryland 20817 

(202) 747-52 12 

john@mietuslaw.com 

Counsel for CATHAY PACIFIC 
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I hereby certify that I have, this 12th day of Ma rch, 2015 caused a copy 

of the foregoing Application for Renewal of an Exemption to be served by 

electronic mail on the following persons: 

howard.kass, robert.wirick@aa.com 

dheffernan@cozen.com + jeremy.ross@alaskaair.com 

rpommer@atlasair.com 

sascha.vanderbellen, chris.walker@delta.com 

bsandler@pszjlaw.com for Evergreen 

nssparks, gbleopard@fedex.com 

jhill, perkmann@cooley.com for Hawaiian 

matwood@cozen.com for Kalitta 

kevin.montgomery@polaraircargo.com 

pchase@southernair.com 

gmurphy, sseiden@crowell.com for United 

dan.weiss, steve.morrissey@united.com 

anita.mosner, jennifer.nowak@hklaw.com for UPS 

john.s.duncan@faa.gov 

englets@state.gov