CQ 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE .U.S. Department . Assistant Secretary 

Washington, DC 20590 of TransportQtion 

Office of the Secretary 


of Transportation 


The Honorable Lee Fisher 

Lieutenant Governor of Ohio 

Columbus, OH 43215-6117 

Dear Lieutenant Governor Fisher: 

Thank you for your letter cosigned by Governor Ted. Strickland supporting the application for 

antitrust immunity filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalfof 

the Secretary. 

As you may know, the applicants-members ofthe orieworld Alliance-are seeking antitrust 

immunitytocloselycoordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According to th~ 

application, the alliance partners plan to laimcha joint venture for 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 Transportation (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 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 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, lam placinga copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket 

DOT -OST.-20IO-0059as a contilctoutside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. An identicalletter has been sentto Governor Strickland. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary for 


Aviation and International Affairs 

-_ .. .. _ _._.

_._

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 

Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation 

Office of the Secretory 

of Transportation JUN 1 0 2010 

The Honorable Ted Strickland 


Governor of Ohio 


Cohunbus,OH 43215-6117 


Dear Governor Strickland: 

Thank you for your letter cosigned by Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher supporting the application 

for antitrust immunity filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalf 

ofthe Secretary. 

As you may 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 a joint venture for 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 Transportation (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 application are made in consultation 

withthe 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 on the merits ofthe application. I can assure YOlf, 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, I 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 Lieutenant Governor Fisher. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary for 


Aviation and International Affairs 

S 10-100308-018 


March 2, 2010 

,	The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: . DocketDOT·OST·201.0~_ 

Dear Mr. Secretary; 

We write to express our support for the application for antitrust immunity and the 

proposed joint business agreement filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The proposed 

. alliance between these two airlines is vital to compete effectively with the Star andSkyTeam 

alliance. This increased interaIliance competition will in 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, we encourage the Departxnent ofTransportation to approve this . 

application as it would enable the alliance airlines to work closely together to deliver highly 

competitive air transportation services. Approval for an 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 to benefit from having three competitive air alliances to 

choose from. 

We urge. you to quickly approve ,this application. 

Sincerely, 

~~ Ted Strickland 


Governor 


77 SOUTH HIGH STREET • 30TH FLOOR • COLUMBUS, OHIO 432 t 5-61 t 7 • 614.466.3555 • FAX: 614.466,9354