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

Office of the Secretary 

ot Transportation 

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 behalf ofthe Secretary. 

As you may know. the applicants-members of the oneworld Alliance-are seeking antitrust 

immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According tothe 

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 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 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, r amplapjng a ¢opy 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 

.... 

MAR-12l2-20112l 15:26 From:GOI.)ERNORS OFFICE 7013281880 To:21!l2366721!l2 S I 0-\ 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'Oposed jolrtt bl,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 or the Do'r$ Open 

SIdes pdl1cy.· 

On behn.lf of the 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 E BouJovnrd AVIJ. 


l~illmi.1r<:k, N'D 58505-0001 


J'hoM: 701.~21J,2200 

Pnx: 701.1)28.220.5 


www,nd.gov