U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation 

## APR 0 9 

## 2010 Office of the Secretary ofTransportation 

## <

The Honorable Bill Ritter, Jr. GovernorofColorado 136 State Capitol Building Denver, CO 80203 Dear Governor Ritter: Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood, supporting the application for antitrustimmunity filed by All Nippon Airways, United 

### Air Lines, and Continental Airlines. 

### I am responding on behalfofthe Secretary. Asyoumayknow, the applicants-members ofthe Star Alliance-are seeking antitrust immunity to closely coordinate flights betweenthe United States and Asia. Accordingto the application, the alliance partners plan to launch ajoint 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 ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluatethe application according to·rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to determine ifit 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. Asthis matter is nowpending, I hope youunderstand that I cannot comment onthemerits ofthe application. I can assure you, however, that DOT will give full andfair 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-2010-0059 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 Affairsc 

### S10-091230-015

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 ofTransportation (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 agreementbetween the governments ofthe 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 of this 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 significantprice 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. Ithank you foryourwork to achieve the**U.S.~Japan** 

### Open Skies agreement and look forward to your approval ofthe pending application. Sincerely,

• 

# &!f

Governor ofColorado