BEFORE THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_________________________________________

)

Application of )

)

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2011-0148

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) )

)

For Renewal of an Exemption from )

49 U.S.C. § 41301 )

(Monterrey, Mexico – Orlando, Florida; )

Monterrey, Mexico – Miami, Florida; )

Guadalajara, Mexico – Houston, Texas; )

Guadalajara, Mexico – San Antonio, Texas) )

_________________________________________ )

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V.

(VIVAAEROBUS) 

FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTIONS

Communications concerning this document should be addressed to:

David M. Kirstein

Joanne W. Young

KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC

1750 K Street N.W.

Suite 200

Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 331-3348 (telephone)

(202) 331-3933 (facsimile)

Counsel for

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

August 2, 2011

NOTICE: Answers supporting or opposing this application must be filed with the

Department on or before August 17, 2012. 
BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_________________________________________

)

Application of )

)

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2011-0148

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) )

)

For Renewal of an Exemption from )

49 U.S.C. § 41301 )

(Monterrey, Mexico – Orlando, Florida; )

Monterrey, Mexico – Miami, Florida; )

Guadalajara, Mexico – Houston, Texas; )

Guadalajara, Mexico – San Antonio, Texas) )

_________________________________________ )

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V.

(VIVAAEROBUS) 

FOR RENEWAL OF EXEMPTIONS 

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109(c), Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

(“vivaAerobus”), a Mexican air carrier, respectfully requests renewal of the exemption authority 

granted in the above-captioned docket to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of 

persons, property and mail between Monterrey, Mexico and Orlando, Florida; Monterrey, 

Mexico and Miami, Florida; Guadalajara, Mexico and Houston, Texas; and Guadalajara, Mexico 

and San Antonio, Texas. By Notice of Action Taken dated August 17, 2011, the Department 

granted vivaAerobus exemption authority for these markets. vivaAerobus’ existing exemption 

authority expires on August 17, 2012. vivaAerobus requests that the Department grant renewal of 

these exemptions for a two-year period or until issuance of a final order in this docket amending 

its Foreign Air Carrier Permit to include service to these markets, among others. vivaAerobus 
Exemption Renewal Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

Monterrey-Orlando, Monterrey-Miami, Guadalajara-Houston and Guadalajara-San Antonio

Page 2 of 4

relies on 5 U.S.C. § 558(c) as implemented by Part 377 of the Department’s procedural 

regulations to continue its existing authorization in force pending a final decision on this renewal 

request.

In support of this Application, vivaAerobus states as follows:

1. vivaAerobus was established in November 2006 as the first low-cost Mexican air 

carrier. It currently operates to various Mexican destinations as well as to Las Vegas, Nevada; 

Houston, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Orlando, Florida; and Miami, Florida.

2. vivaAerobus has been found fit, willing and able to provide foreign air 

transportation and currently holds a foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled service 

between the Mexican points of Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, Leon, Queretaro, and Cancun

and Austin, Texas. Order 2008-1-23. On July 20, 2012, the Department issued an Order to Show 

Cause tentatively finding that it is in the public interest to amend vivaAerobus’ foreign air carrier 

permit to include the authority to provide scheduled service for the U.S.-Mexico markets that are 

the subject of this renewal application as well as (a) Monterrey, Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada;

(b) Monterrey, Mexico – Houston, Texas; (c) Monterrey, Mexico – San Antonio, Texas; (d) 

Monterrey, Mexico - Chicago, Illinois; and (e) Guadalajara, Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada. Order 

2012-7-24. There have been no material changes within the company that would affect the 

Department’s prior fitness findings.

3. vivaAerobus uses Boeing 737-300 aircraft for all its services. Mexico is a 

contracting state to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (“ICAO”) and observes all 

applicable ICAO standards. This renewal application does not raise any environmental or energy 
Exemption Renewal Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

Monterrey-Orlando, Monterrey-Miami, Guadalajara-Houston and Guadalajara-San Antonio

Page 3 of 4

issues because approval of this request will not result in an increase in fuel consumption of ten 

million gallons or more in the near future.

4. The requested authority is covered by the U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement. 

On December 12, 2005, the Governments of the United States and Mexico signed an amendment 

to that bilateral agreement broadening air transportation services between the two countries and 

permitting designated Mexican carriers to operate from a “point or points in Mexico to a point or 

points in the United States” subject to limitations on the number of designations per market. 

vivaAerobus’s proposed services are within the scope of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral. 

5. Renewal of this exemption authority is consistent with the public interest. 

vivaAerobus’s scheduled operations positively impact competition in U.S.-Mexico markets and 

provide low-cost travel options to passengers.
Exemption Renewal Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

Monterrey-Orlando, Monterrey-Miami, Guadalajara-Houston and Guadalajara-San Antonio

Page 4 of 4

WHEREFORE, vivaAerobus respectfully requests the Department to renew the

exemptions granted in the above captioned docket to allow vivaAerobus to engage in scheduled

foreign air transport of persons, property and mail between Monterrey, Mexico – Orlando, 

Florida; Monterrey, Mexico – Miami, Florida; Guadalajara, Mexico – Houston, Texas; and 

Guadalajara, Mexico – San Antonio, Texas. vivaAerobus further requests any different or 

additional relief the Department may deem necessary.

Respectfully Submitted,

David M. Kirstein

Joanne W. Young

KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC

1750 K Street N.W.

Suite 200

Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 331-3348 (telephone)

Counsel for 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V.

August 2, 2012
Certificate of Service

I certify that on this 2nd day of August 2012, a copy of the foregoing Renewal 

Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. for Exemptions was served by email on the 

following:

msinick@ssd.com (Alaska)

bob.kneisley@wnco.com (AirTran/Southwest)

leslie.abbott@wnco.com (AirTran/Southwest)

Carl.nelson@aa.com (American)

francis.heil@aa.com (American)

james.kaleigh@aa.com (American)

robert.wirick@aa.com (American)

jcanny@amerijet.com (Amerijet)

jrichardson@johnlrichardson.com (Amerijet)

rpommer@atlasair.com (Atlas)

Stephen.lachter@lachterlaw.com (ASTAR)

jeff.morgan@delta.com (Delta)

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com (Delta)

cefelts@fedex.com (FedEx)

Patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com (Frontier)

Robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com (Frontier)

jhill@dowlohnes.com (JetBlue)

robert.land@jetblue.com (JetBlue)

kevin.montgomery@polaraircargo.com (Polar)

john.Fredericksen@suncountry.com (Sun 

Country)

steve.morrissey@united.com (United)

dan.weiss@united.com (United)

jonathan.linde@united.com (United)

lhalloway@crowell.com (United)

rbkeiner@crowell.com (United)

gmurphy@crowell.com (United)

Anita.mosner@hklaw.com (UPS)

Jennifer.nowak@hklaw.com (UPS)

Benjamin_slocum@usairways.com (US 

Airways)

howard_kass@usairways.com (U.S. Airways)

pmurphy@lopmurphy.com (USA 3000)

john.varley@virginamerica.com (Virgin 

America)

barbara.russell@virginamerica.com (Virgin 

America)

john.allen@faa.gov

urskr@state.gov

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov

brian.hedberg@dot.gov

______________________

Lyndsey M. Grunewald