.... 

u.s. Department Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 of Trcihsportati0r'l 

Officee>f the Secretary 

of Transpbrtation . 

JUN 1 02010 

.. 

The Honorable Jim Gibbons 

. Governor ofNevada . 

Carson City,NV89701 

(Jl 

Dear Governor Gibbons: 

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 ofthe oneworld Alliance-are seeking antitrust ~ 

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


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 of Transportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

. applicatIon according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review of the record to 

determine ifit 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 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 normalpractice,I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST·2010-0059 asa 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 

:0;' .• 

1.1110 OSlW85 310 02 13 46 Pili 03 S I 0-1003 15-044 

ONE Hl1NDJW) OMi Noans CARSON STRI!F.T 555 EASI' WASltINOlON AVBNUI!. Sum! 5100 

CARSON Cm, NEVADA 89701 LAs VEGAS, NEVADA '89101 

OFflCIl! (775) 684·5670 OFficE: (70%) 486-2500 

PAX No.: ern> 6M.S683 . PAX No.: (702) 486 ·2505 

Ol)fftCt nf tlJt Oinutrnnt 

JIM GIBBONS 

GOVfRNOR 

March 11, 20.0 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department ofTransportation 

l~OO New Jersey Ave., SB 

Washington, DC 20590 

Docket DOT.OSTw201(~.••' ' 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

Tbankyou for the opportunity to express my support and approval ofthe 

,application for the antitrust immunity,1qld proposed joint business agreement filed by 

American Airlines and Japan Airlil1es. . 

The proposed'alliance between tbese two airlines is vital for oneworld to compete, 

o'trecliveJy with the Star andSk)'ream alliance. TJds increased interwalUance competition 

wnt in tum enhance the benoft'll oftbeDep8rtment's Open Skies poticy, first by 

solidjfying US-Japan Open Skies, then by serving as a foundation for f\u1her 

liberalization across Asia. 

Approval for the American Airlines and Japan Airlines alliance win have a 

positive impact on air travel by offering customers morc service, scheduling. and pricing 

options and will help toonsure that customers continue to benefit fiom having tbreo 

competitive air alliances&om which to choosettherefore [ strongly enQOurago the 

Department ofTnmsportation to approve this appUcation. 

in....~y.~u.J 

/jp