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

### APR 0,2 

## 2010 Office ofthe Secretary ofTransportation

The Honorable Paul D. Fraim Mayor ofNorfolk Norfolk, VA 23510 Dear Mayor Fraim: Thank you for your letter ofMarch 11 supporting the application for antitrust immunitt]iled American Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding onbehalfofSecretaryLaHood. As you may know, the applicants--members ofthe oneworld Alliance-are seeking antitrust immunityto closely coordinate flights betweenthe United States and Asia. According to the application, the alliance partners plan to launch ajointyenture for conveyance oftranspacific 

### traffic. The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the opportunityto comment. The U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe recordto determine ifit is substantially complete. Decisions onthe application are made inconsultation With the U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of competitivefactors. As this matter is nowpending, I hope you understand that I cannot comment onthe merits ofthe application. I can assure you, however, that DOT will give full and fair considerationto the application as well as any comments filed in the docket. As is ournormal practice, 

### I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2010-0059 as a contact outside the record inthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this proceeding. Sincerely yours,

Susan 

### L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and IntemationalAffairs

### S I0-10(3) 6-022



# CITYof 

# NORFOLK Office ofthe Mayor Paul D. Fraim Mayor 

### March 11,2010 The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood Secretary U.S. Department.ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: DocketDOT-OST-20l0-
__ 

### Dear Secretary LaHood: Thank you for the opportunity to express my support for the application for antitrust immunity and proposedjoint business agreement filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The proposed alliance between these two airlines is vital for oneworld to compete effectively with the Star and SkyTeam alliance. This increased interalliance competition will 

### in tum enhance the benefits ofthe Department's Open Skies policy

­ first by solidifying U.s.-Japan Open Skies, then by serving as a foundation for further liberalization across Asia.'
. After athorough review, I encourage the Department ofTransportation to approve this application as it would enable these oneworld alliance airlines to work closely together to deliver highly competitive air transportation services. Approval for AAfJAL alliance will have a positive impact on air travel by offering customers more service, scheduling and pricing options and will help to ensure that customers continue to benefit from having three competitive air alliances to choose from. Iurge you to quickly approve this application.

, ( I,,, .,
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810 Union Street. SUitle 1001 • Norfolk, Virginia 23510 • (757} 664·4679 • Fax (757) 441·2909 G pllu!.fraim@norfolk,gov