BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

)

Application of )

)

AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC. ) Docket DOT-OST-2015-_____

)

for an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 40109 )

(Los Angeles, California-Mazatlan, Mexico) )

)

APPLICATION OF AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.

FOR AN EXEMPTION

(Los Angeles, California—Mazatlan, Mexico)

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

Howard Kass

Vice President – Regulatory Affairs

Robert A. Wirick

Managing Director, Regulatory and 

 International Affairs

Abigail Donovan

Director, Congressional and Federal Affairs

American Airlines, Inc.

1101 17th Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036

(202) 326-5153

howard.kass@aa.com

robert.wirick@aa.com

abigail.donovan@aa.com

DATED: April 29, 2015

NOTICE: American Airlines plans to poll on this application and therefore requests that any 

parties wishing to support or oppose this application notify American Airlines 

immediately.
BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

)

Application of )

)

AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC. ) Docket DOT-OST-2015-_____

)

for an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 40109 )

(Los Angeles, California-Mazatlan, Mexico) )

)

APPLICATION OF AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.

FOR AN EXEMPTION

(Los Angeles, California—Mazatlan, Mexico)

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 40109 and Subpart C of the Department of Transportation’s 

(“Department”) Rules of Practice (14 C.F.R. Part 302), American Airlines, Inc. (“American”) 

hereby applies for an exemption to engage in the scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, 

property and mail between Los Angeles, California (“LAX”) and Mazatlan, Mexico (“MZT”), 

pursuant to its codeshare agreement with Compass Airlines, LLC (“Compass”). American requests 

that this authority be granted for at least two years.

American plans to commence codeshare service between Los Angeles and Mazatlan on

November 7, 2015.

1

 Approval of this application will allow American to continue to strengthen its 

presence at Los Angeles, which is American’s west coast gateway to Asia and other international 

destinations. Today, American provides nonstop service from Los Angeles to 53 worldwide points, 

including 46 cities in the United States. American will be a new entrant in the Los Angeles-

 

1 To the extent necessary, American also requests a codeshare authorization. Compass has separately filed an 

application seeking an exemption and designation to operate in the LAX-MZT market which, when approved by the 

Department, will provide Compass with all underlying authority necessary to operate LAX-MZT codeshare flights 

on behalf of American.
Application of American Airlines, Inc. for an Exemption

(Los Angeles, California – Mazatlan, Mexico)

2

Mazatlan market, thereby enhancing competition at the Los Angeles gateway and providing 

consumers with a valuable alternative to services offered by other U.S. carriers and their Mexicancarrier codeshare partner.2

 

In support of this application, American respectfully states as follows:

1. American is a Delaware corporation with its principal office at 4333 Amon Carter 

Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76155.

2. American is a citizen of the United States within the meaning of 49 U.S.C. 

40102(15)(c) and is fit, willing and able to provide the services contemplated by this application. 

American holds various certificates of public convenience and necessity as well as exemption 

authorities. (See, e.g., Order 2007-4-2, April 3, 2007, Dockets DOT-OST-2000-8516 and DOTOST-2005-22228 (Blanket Open Skies Route Authority); Notice of Action Taken, March 9, 2015, 

Docket DOT-OST-2015-0047 (Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas – Aguascalientes, Mexico).) Pursuant to 

Rule 24 of the Department’s Rules of Practice, American requests that the Department take official 

notice of all information filed previously to establish its fitness.

3. American requests an exemption from 49 U.S.C. 41101 permitting it to engage in 

the scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between Los Angeles, 

California, and Mazatlan, Mexico. American plans to commence LAX-MZT service on 

November 7, 2015. Service will be operated year-round using Embraer 175 aircraft seating 12

business and 64 economy class passengers. These flights will be operated by Compass and held out 

under American’s designator code. An illustrative service schedule is attached as Exhibit A.

 

2 Currently, Alaska Airlines, Inc. (“Alaska”) and Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”) offer service between Los Angeles 

and Mazatlan. Aerovias de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“Aeromexico”) also holds an exemption permitting it to 

codeshare on Delta’s LAX-MZT flights. Additionally, Aeromexico codeshares on Alaska’s LAX-MZT flights.
Application of American Airlines, Inc. for an Exemption

(Los Angeles, California – Mazatlan, Mexico)

3

4. American’s proposed service is consistent with the 1960 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport 

Agreement, as amended in September 2005 (“Agreement”).3 The Department has previously found 

that American’s codeshare service between LAX and MZT is consistent with the Agreement and 

the public interest.4 

5. Approval of this application will have no effect on American’s CRAF commitments. 

American submits that its application raises no environmental or energy issues, and it anticipates no 

difficulty in obtaining the fuel required for this service.

6. American will accept and comply with all terms, limitations and conditions that the 

Department normally attaches to exemption authority for scheduled combination foreign air 

transportation. American and Compass will conduct their codeshare service in accordance with 14 

C.F.R. 257 and other usual conditions pertaining to codeshare service.

 

3 Codeshare arrangements of this type are specifically authorized by the Agreement. Annex III(1) and (3)

4 Notice of Action Taken, Docket DOT-OST-2010-0222, July 19, 2012, approving an exemption authorizing 

American to provide Los Angeles-Mazatlan service under its codeshare agreement with Alaska. This service is not 

currently operated.
Application of American Airlines, Inc. for an Exemption

(Los Angeles, California – Mazatlan, Mexico)

4

WHEREFORE, American Airlines, Inc. requests an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 

40109 permitting it to engage in the scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and 

mail between Los Angeles, California, and Mazatlan, Mexico, as more fully described herein, or 

such other relief as the Department of Transportation deems necessary and appropriate.

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________

Howard Kass

Vice President – Regulatory Affairs

Robert A. Wirick

Managing Director, Regulatory and 

 International Affairs

Abigail Donovan

Director, Congressional and Federal Affairs

American Airlines, Inc.

1101 17th Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036

(202) 326-5153

howard.kass@aa.com

robert.wirick@aa.com

abigail.donovan@aa.com

DATED: April 29, 2015
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on April 29, 2015, I served by electronic mail a copy of the foregoing 

Application upon those addressees listed below:

brian.hedberg@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

brett.kruger@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

robert.finamore@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

reese.davidson@dot.gov (Department of Transportation)

dan.weiss@united.com (United)

steve.morrissey@united.com (United)

gmurphy@crowell.com (Counsel for United)

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com (Delta)

chris.walker@delta (Delta)

patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com (Republic)

bob.kneisley@wnco.com (Southwest)

perkmann@cooley.com (Counsel for JetBlue)

dkirstein@yklaw.com (Counsel for Spirit)

barbara.russell@virginamerica.com (Virgin)

matwood@cozen.com (Counsel for Frontier)

Thomas.ting@suncountry.com (Sun Country)

lharig@mklawdc.com (Compass Airlines)

patrick.rizzi@hoganlovells.com; robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com (Counsel for Republic)

bob.kneisley@wnco.com (Southwest)

dheffernan@cozen.com (Counsel for Alaska)

jeremy.ross@alaskaair.com (Alaska)

john@mietuslaw.com (Counsel for Aeromexico)

___________ ____________________

Abigail Donovan
1

Los Angeles-Mazatlán 

Flight Schedule

DOT Docket OST-2015-___

Exhibit A-1

Page 1 of 3

Los Angeles (LAX) – Mazatlán, Mexico (MZT)

Non-stop Service

Operated by Compass Airlines as American Eagle

Effective November 7, 2015

AA 5999 Flight Number AA 5999 

Daily Frequency Daily

E-175 Equipment E-175

0900 Los Angeles

(LAX)

1335

1235 Mazatlán 

(MZT)

1500

2:35 Elapsed Time 2:35
2

Los Angeles-Mazatlán 

Flight Statistics

DOT Docket OST-2015-___

Exhibit A-1

Page 2 of 3

Annual Operating Statistics

Effective November 7, 2015 (Daily)

Aircraft Embraer 175 (E-175)

Departures 730

Segment Miles 1,045

Plane Miles 762,850

ASMs 57,976,600

AIRCRAFT AVAILABILITY

Compass Airlines will use aircraft currently in its fleet.

FUEL AVAILABILITY 

Compass Airlines anticipates no difficulty in obtaining fuel from its existing suppliers at 

Los Angeles and Mazatlán.

The environmental impact of Compass’s proposed service is de minimis. Although the aggregate annual fuel 

usage of Compass’s proposed service is expected to exceed 10 million gallons, Compass would use these 

aircraft in other markets in the absence of an order granting the operating authority Compass seeks in this 

application. Accordingly, the proposed service will not cause a near-term net annual change in aircraft fuel 

consumption of 10 million gallons or more of fuel consumption if the request were not granted.
3

Los Angeles-Mazatlán 

Seating Information

DOT Docket OST-2015-___

Exhibit A-1

Page 3 of 3

Seating Configuration

Embraer 175

Operated by Compass Airlines as American Eagle

AIRCRAFT AVAILABILITY

Compass Airlines will use aircraft currently in its fleet.

Business Class 12

Main Cabin Extra 20

Main Cabin 44

Total 76