U.S. Department· Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey IIvenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation 

APR 0 9 2010 Office of the Secretory 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa 

Mayor of Los Angeles . 

Los Angeles, CA 90012 

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa: 

;; 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 

behalfofthe Secretary. . 

As you may know, the applicants-members of the 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. Department ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to 

determine if it is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation 

with theU.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 of the 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 
. ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA 


MAYOR 


December 23, 2009 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 


Secretary 


United States Department of Transportation 


1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 


.:. WashingtonI D.C. 20590 

Re: UnitedJContinentaUAIi Nippon Antitrust Immunity Request 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

I am writing in support of 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. 

Approval of this application will help to 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 

ATI request. Establishing Open Skies with Japan is an enormous achievement and will 

produce significant benefits for consumers, competition and airline employees. It will 

provide travelers more airline seats, destinations, routings, schedules and prices. 

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

allow them and the communities they serve to stay competitive in an increasingly g!obal 

marketplace. This immunity requestwill help preserve and enhance service to 

communities throughout the United States. 

Mayor 

ARV:jb 

200 NORTH SPRING STREET • Los Al\:GELBS, CALIFORNIA 90012 

..e® PHONE: (213) 978-0600 • FAX: (213) 978-0750, 

EMAIL: MAYOR@LACITY.ORG