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

of. Transportation Washington. DC 20590

APR 0,2 2010 Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

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 on behalfof Secretary 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 a joint yenture 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. Department ofTransportation (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 you understand 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 IntemationalAffairs 

S I 0-10(3) 6-022 


CITY ofNORFOLK 

Office of the 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 proposed joint 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 of the 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 a thorough review, I encourage the Department of Transportation 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. 

I urge you to quickly approve this application. 

, ( 

I,,, ., 

.'. 

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