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## TAT/AN U.S. Department Assistant Secretary i**r,,,;:~!**

## S 12'60 New Jersey Avenue. SE

. Washington. DC 20590 of Transportation Karch 25. 2010 Office of the Secretary ofTransportation



### The Honorable Roy D. Buol Mayor ofCity ofDubuque Dubuque, IA 52001-4864 Dear Mayor Buol: Thank you for your letter ofFebruary 26 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalfofSecretary LaHood. 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 ajointventure for conveyance oftranspacific traffic. The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interestedparties 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 onthe 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 ournormal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2010-_ 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 Affairs1Q 

### S 1 0-1 

### 00304-024

Office ofthe Mayor City Hall 50 West 13th Sb:eet Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864 www.cltyofdubuque.org February 26, 2010
The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood, Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Ave, SE Washington. DC 20590 RE: Docket**DOT-OST-2010-~** Dear Mr. Secretary: As Mayorof Dubuque, Iowa. I thank you forthe opportunity to express my sincere support for the application for antitrust immunity and proposed jointbusiness agreement filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The proposed alliance between these two airlines is vital forthe oneworld alliance to compete effectively with the Star and SkyTeam alliances. This increased alliance competition will in tum enhance the benefits ofthe.Department's "Open Skies" policyfirst by solidifying U.S. - Japan Open Skies, then by serving as afoundation forfurther liberalization across Asia. Afterathorough review, I would like to encourage the Department ofTransportation to approve this application, as Itwould enable theseoneworld alliance airlines to work closely togetherto deliver highly competitive air transportation services. Approval for M/JALalliance will have a positive impact on airtravel by offering customers more service. scheduling and pricing options, and will help 

### to ensure that customers continue to benefit from the competition afforded by three competitive air alliances. I respectfully urge expeditious approval ofthis application. 

# s;z Rafoll;/W Mayor City of Dubuque rdbuol@cityofdubuque.org

Service Integrity Resp<msibllity Innovation Teamwork