U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE 

Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation 

APR 0 9 2010 Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

< 

The Honorable Bill Ritter, Jr. 

Governor of Colorado 

136 State Capitol Building 

Denver, CO 80203 

Dear Governor Ritter: 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood, supporting the application for antitrust immunity 

filed by All Nippon Airways, United Air Lines, and Continental Airlines. I am responding on 

behalf ofthe Secretary. 

As you may know, the applicants-members ofthe Star 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 conveyance oftranspacific 

traffic. 

The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the 

opportunity to comment. The U.S. DeJ)artment of Transportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to· rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe 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 youunderstand that I cannot 

comment on the 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 normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2010-0059 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 Affairs 
c 

S 10-091230-015 


136 STATE CAPITOL ElVILDING 

DENVER, COL.ORADO 80203 

BILL RITTER • ..JR. TEL 303~eee-247 I 

GOVERNO"R FAX 303-81515-2003 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 


Secretary 


United States Department ofTransportation 


1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.B. 


Washington, D.C. 20590 


Dear Secretarj LaHood: 

lam writing to express my strong support for the antitrust immunity (ATI) application 

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

Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT approval will enable these airlines to deliver 

the competitive flight schedules> fares and services consumers demand. 

YOUl' leadership in this matter will ensure that the United States realizes the benefits of 

the recent Open Skies aviation agreement between the governments of the United States 

and Japan, Which will not go into effect unless and until DOT grants the AT! request. 

Open Skies with Japan is an enonnous achievement and will produce significant benefits 

for consumers, competition and airline employees. Approval ofthis important 

application will maximize the benefits to the United States ofthe Open Skies agreement 

with Japan by providing travelers more rurline seats, destinations, routings, schedules and 

prices. 

In this challenging economic environment, our airlines need to pursue all opportunities to 

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

marketplace. Approval ofthis 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 alliances. 

I thank you for yourwork to achieve the U.S.~Japan Open Skies agreement and look 


forward to your approval of the pending application. 


Sincerely, 

&!f •

Governor of Colorado