< 


c. 

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

of Transportation Washington. DC 20590 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

The Honomble Frank R. Wolf 

U. S. House ofRepresentatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Wolf: 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, 

supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by All Nippon Airways, United Air Lines, 

and Continental AirHnes. lam responding on oehalf of the Secretary. 

As you may know. the applican~s-menlbers ofthe Star Alliance-are seeking antitrust 

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

application, the alliance partners plan to launch a joint venture for transpacific trafflc. 

The application is administered ill a public do~ket, wbich ensul'esthat interest¢d parties have the 

opp()rtunityto comment. The U.S.,[)epartment6fTransp6rtation (DOT) will evaluate the 

applica.tion according,to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a revi~w ofthe record to 

detennine ifit is substantially complete. DecisionsQn theappUcationare ronde in Qonsultation 

with tile U.s, Department ofJu:stice'sAntitrust Division fonowingo. thorough analysis of 

competitiveJactQts. As this matter is nowpertdin~, I am sure youundel'stand thatcthe 

D.epartment cftnnotcOmJUcnt on themeritsofthe applicatioll. loan assure YQU, however, that 

DOT will give full and fair consideration to the application as well as any commentsflled in. the 

docket. 

As is our normalpractice, a copy ofyour letter and this response have been placed in Docket 

DOT,.08T-2010..0059 as a contact outside there:cQrd in this nlatt¢r. We appreeiateyour interest 

in this proceeding. A similar letter has been sent to each cosigner ofyour letter. 

lr#Susan L. Kurland 

U. , Assistant Secretary for 

Aviadon and International Affftirs 
Q 

U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 12.00 New Jersey AV£JtltJo, SE 

of Transportation Washington, DC 2Q590 

Office of the Secretory 

oiTronsportotlon APR 1 2 2010 

The Honorable James P. Moran 

U. S. House ofRepresentatives 


Washington, DC 20515 


DearCongressOlan Moran: 

Thank youfor yottrletterto Secretary LaHood. cosigned bYYQurqoqgressi~onaL colleagues, 

supporting the applicl;ltion for antitrust!tnmunity filed by All Nippon,Airways. United Air Lines, 

and Continental'Airlines. I am responding on behalfofthe Secretary. 

As you may know.theapplicants,,-members of the StarAlliance-are seeking antitrust 

immunity to closelycoordinatetlights between the UnitedStatestlnd Asia. According to the 

appH~ation, thealliariceparttlers plan tola.unchajoint venture Iortranspacific traffic. 

The application isadministere(lin a p~lblicdQcket,which enSures tl1at interested parties ha.ve the 

opportunity to comment: .The U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to rigorous statutory standards~ beginning witba review of the re.c.ord to 

determine ifll is substantially complete. Decisions on the appliqationare made in consultation 

with tQe U.s. Department of Justice's Antitrust DiVision following a thorough anruysisof 

competitive ractors. As this tnatteris now pending, I am sure you understand that the 

DepartlnentcQ1lfiot commenton tbemeqts oftheappUcatjon. I can assure you, however, tbat 

DOT WiUgive !Ulland fair consideration to the application as well as any conunentsfiled in the 

docket. 

As is our nOlma.}. practice, a copy of your letter and thj~rellPon$e have been pl,aced in Do~ket 

D01'-Q$1'..2010..0059a$ aCOlltact ol.ltside thereeord inthIs matter. We appreciate your interest 

in this proceeding. Asimilar letter has been sent to each cosigner ofyour letter. 

Shlccrely yours, 

.kt/Susan L. Kurland 
 O~ssistantSeoretary for 


. A viationand lntemational Affairs 
c 

U.S. Deportment Assistant Socrol!lry 1200 New Jetsey Avon,,",. SF: 

of Transportation WashIng/on, PC 21)590

Office of the Secretary 

ofTronsporfotion 

APR 1 2 2010 

The Honorable Gerald E. Connolly 

U. S. Hous.e ofRepresentatives 


Washington~ DC 20515 


Dear CongressrnanConnolly: 

Thank you for your JetteI' to Secretary LaHood,cosigned by your congressional colleagues, 

supporting the application for antitrustirnmunity tiled by All Nippon Airways~UnjtedAil\Ul\es, 

and Continental Aidines.Iam responding on behalf of the Secretary. 

As you may know~ the applicants-members oftheStarAUial1ce-are seeking antitru~t 

immunity to closely coordinatetligbts between the United States and Asia. According to the 

application; theaUiance partners plan to launch a joint venture for transpacific traffic. 

The application is administered it. apubUc docket, which enSUres that interested parties have the· 

opportunity to comment. The U.S. Department ofTransportatlon (DOT) will evaluate the 

appliQation according to rigorous statu.toty standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to 

determine ifit is substmltially complete. Decistons .011 the application are made in consultation 

with the u.s. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of 

competitive factors. As this mattel' is noWpendit'% I am sure you understand that the 

Departmentcannol comment on the merits ofthe sJ,plication. I can assure you, howevef~ that . 

DOT wiUgivefuU and fair consideration to the applicaUonas weH as any comments {Hedin the . docket . 

As is out nonnalpractice~ a .copy of your lettefmld thisrespollse have been placed inOocket 

OOT-OST·20 1 O~0059as a contact outside the record in this matter. We appreciate yourinterest 

ill this proceeding. A similar letter haS been sent to eaell cosigner ofYOLII·letter. 

Sincerely yours, 

IA ~usaI1 1.. Kurland 1/'A••isl1mtSecretaty fur 

Aviation and Intentatiortal Affairs 
- S10-100128-065 


Cltnugrtss nf flJt lltuiftb .fafts 

mUliIJingtnn. mGt 20515 

January 22, 2010 

The Honorable Raymond H.' LaHood ' 


'SeCretary , 


United States Department ofTransportation 


1200 New Jersey Ave SE 


Washington DC 20590 


Dear Secretary LaHood: 

We: are Writing to express our strGng support for the antitrust immunity (ATI) application 


filed by United Airlines, Continental and AU Nippon Airways (ANA) with the U.S. Department 


ofTransportation (DOT). DOT approval will enable these airlines to deliver the competitive 


flight schedules, fares and services consumers demand. 
 , ' ' 

, Your'Jeadershipin this 'matter wiUensure that the United States' realizes the benefits of 


the recent Open Skies aviation agreement betweenthe governments ofthe United States and 


Japan, which will not go into effect unless and until DOT grants the ATI request. Open Skies 


with Japan is an enonnous achievement and will produce significant benefits for consumers, 


competition and airline employees. Approval of this important application will maximize the 


benefits to the United States ofthe Open SkIes agreement with Japan by-providing travelers 


more airline seats, destinations, rou~ngs. schedules and prices. ' 


In this 'challenging economic environment, our airlines need to' p~~e all opportuhlties to 


allow them and the communities they serve to stay competitive in an increasingly global ' 


marketplace. Approval of this application would allow these airlines to generate significant price 


and service benefits for consumers, help preserve and enhance service to communities 


throughout the United States, and compete more effectively with other international airlines and, 


aHiances. . ' . '1 I), ,. • f 

,. ..,", I ,# '. 

t;<' '. ' • ," , i " ! ';1 t f ': ~. _ L. IWe thank you for yout work to achieve the U.S...JapanOpen Skies agreement look ' 


, forward to your approval o~ the pending application. 


, " Since'~ely, , " 

"!P)! 

I. 

" <l'Ii2~ ,tank R. Wolf "~ .JA~~(IIj"',-_ ~!u; 9~ , Member of Congress " 
 Member ofCongress ' 

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