1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Assistant Secretary U.S. Department Washington. DC20590 of Transportation Office of the Secretary otTransportation 

## JUN 1 0 

## 2010

"""J The Honorable John Hoeven Governor ofNorth Dakota Bismarck, ND 58505-0001 Dear Governor Hoeven: Thank you for your letter supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalfofthe 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 tothe application, the alliance partners planto launch ajoint 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 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 understandthat I cannot comment onthe 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, 

## ramplapjng a ¢opy ofyour 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. Sincerelyyours,

Susan 

### L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

## ....
MAR-12l2-20112l 15:26 From:GOI.)ERNORS OFFICE 7013281880 To:21!l2366721!l2 

### S I0-\00303-006 

## --==---.. 

# -State of

....... . 

# North Dakota Off'ice of tlle'Governor 

## John Hoeven Go'Vemo1' MI1,l:ch 

### 1, 2010
1he

### HonQrablc RQYlnOl'ld 

### Fl. l

...

### nI-if.ood SeeJ:etnry 

### U.S. Department 

### oETrnnspoJ:tndon

. 1200 NewJe.t:sey

### Ave, SS

Wnshingt.Qf1.DC20S90 

### ·OocketDO'l'-OST-2010"-' Dea.r Mr..**~eCl:etnry:** 

### We 

### appJ:cciltc this 

### Ql?po,Cnuuty to 

### eXJ?l!ess all! sUPI?0J:t 

### EO.t: the appUcation fot the pL'Oposedjolrttbl,lshless agreement tiled by Anterlc!ln AirJines a.nd**Jnp~n** 

### Aidines. 

### The 

### l'lL'Qpnsed alUnnce 

### between these two rur.Unes wiU 

### nell' onewor.lcI to cOI'lpete 

### effectively. 

### This il1ct:eased iIlCet-allin.11ce eompecitiol'l 

### will iI'! tlltn 

### enhance the benefits orthe 

## Do'r$ Open SIdes pdl1cy.· Onbehn.lf 

### ofthe Stnte 

### of'Nor.l:h Dakot.tl, we ,respectfully 

### enc:oLl.t9ge the Department 

### orTrnnspor.tntion to Ilppa:ove this l'I.p'pl1catioo, ns it

### wOldd enable these oneworld alliance aidines 

### to work closely 

### together to deliver hJgh1y competitive nlr**ttpnspo,tt~.tion** 

### services.**4PP.ro\l·~1** 

### lo.r AA/JAL alliance w:iU 

### hffVe**~** 

### poaitive In'lpnet on 

### nit ttnvel by ofEe.cing Cl.Istomer.s 

### more s(lJ:Viee, schedl:lling Md 

### p.cici.ng options 

### and will help toenSl.u:e 

### that cUBtomet8 

### continue 

# to bct1eliirt.com ha:v11'lg 

### three competitive air aJ.linnces to choose f.r.OILl.



### 38:58:35

600 EBouJovnrd AVIJ.**l~illmi.1r<:k,** N'D 58505-0001 J'hoM:**701.~21J,2200**

Pnx: 701.1)28.220.5

www,nd.gov