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.1 


u.s. Department· . Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 of. Transpo,ttQtlon 

Office of theSec~etClry 

of Tronsp6rtatlon. .. 

JUN 1 02010 

";rheHonorable Martin O'Malley 


Governor of Maryland 


Annapolis, MD 21401-1925 


Dear Governor O'Malley: 

Thank you for your letter 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 oftheoneworld 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 ofTransportation (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 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 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, 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. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 


Assistant Secretary for 


Aviation and International Affairs 

S 10-1003 15-0 I 0 


STATE OF MARYLAND 

OFFICE OF lliE GOVERNOR 

MARTIIf O'PMUl!Y 

GO\E'1Il\'OR 

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T7YUSERS CALL VI4 ""ABAV 

March 10,2010 

The Honorable RaymondH,LaHood , . 

Secretary .' 

U.S. Department ofTrnilsportation 


1200 New Jersey Ave, SE ' 


Washington, DC 20590 


Docket OOT·OST..20Jo..­

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

Thank,you for the opportunity.to express my support for the application for antitrust immunity and proposed 

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

two airlines is vital for oneworld<l> to compete effectively with the Star and SkyTeam alliance. This increased 

inter-alliance competition will in tum enhance the benefits of the U.S. Department of Transportation'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, 1 encourage the Department' to approve this application as it would enable these 

oneworld® alliance airlines to work. closely together to deliver highly competitive air transportation services. 

Approval for AAlJAL 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. ' 

I urge }OU 'to quickly approve this application. 

MO'M: lca