U.S.Departmentof Transportation Assistant Secretary 1200 NewJerseyAvenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 OfficeoftheSecretary ofTransportation 

## MAY 01 20\3

Mr. James H. Ferguson Corporate Vice President ·::·..:,m,l 0 \,: -• Customer and Business Transactions FedEx Corporation 942 S. Shady Grove Road, Suite 239 Memphis, TN 38120 Dear Mr. Ferguson: . \

Thank you for your letter ofJanuary 31,2013, supportingthe application for antitrust immWlity filed by Air France, Alitalia, Delta, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic. The Secretary has asked thatI respond to your letter directly. As you may know, Delta and Virgin Atlantic are seeking antitrust immunity primarily to laWlch ajoint venture covering all oftheir flights between North America and the United Kingdom. Delta and Virgin Atlantic are proposingto cooperate with Air France, Alitalia, and KLM as part ofthe newjointventure. ""' ; .i:

The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the opportWlity to comment. The U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the application according to rigorous statutory standards. Decisions on the application are made in consultation withthe U.S. Department ofJustice'sAntitrust Division following a thorough analysis ofcompetitive factors. As this matter is now pending, I hope you understand thatI cannot commentonthe merits ofthe application. I can assure you, however, that DOT will give full and fair consideration to the application as well as to any comments filed in the docket. As is ournormal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response inDocket DOT-OST-2013-0068 as a contactoutside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in this proceeding. Sincerely yours, 

# r·'\**,~/t~Lt{---.?/** Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsJames H. Ferguson Ccn::oune\!fee PlUStde'1t Cusl.OnH)f & Busmoss 1ransacHons

Corporation 

### VIA FEDEX ENVELOPE January 31,2013 The [·Jonorable Ray LaHood Secretary United States Department ofTransportation !200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Dear Secretary LaHood: Soulh Shady Grove Road Stnte 239 W1ernpfHs, TN Tt!lenhor'lt:t 901 818:7?03 Fa'90t81S.7198 ;hh::tquson.1@iedex corn.

Fed

### Ex Corporation is located in Memphis, Tennessee. We 

### arc writing 

### in support ofthe application by Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic for antitrust immunity for the two carriers to Corm ajoint venture for North America- U.K. service. London is the most important transatlantic destination for 

### U.S. passengers, and London is the most important international business route for our company. The proposedjoint venture 

### will allow Delta and Virgin Atlantic to offer a more comprehensive and competitive alternative vvhich will benefit business travelers who desire higher service levels and schedule flexibility. The Delta- Virgin Atlantic partnership will allow both carriers to ol1er a greatly expanded network at London's lleathrow airport which is the preferred airport for business travelers, The joint venture also will benefit our company by providing access to a broader network, improved connectivity and convenient booking options. For these reasons, we urge you to approve the application for antitrust immunity between Delta and Virgin Atlantic. ·rhe newjoint venture will be a great benefit to our company, and will be a positive development in providing improved service and competitive alternatives in the London traveImarket. Sincerely. FEDEX CORPORATION

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