OST-97-3092 / Undocketed / Aeroflot and Continental / Consolidated Answer of Regional Business Partnership (Newark) / November 21, 1997

Application of

for an exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301

Application of

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
for an exemption pursuant to § 40109 (Miami-Moscow)

Joint Application of

for statements of authorization under Parts 207 and Part 212 of the Department's Regulations to engage in code-sharing

The Regional Business Partnership (Newark) 1/ strongly supports the requests for code-share authority filed by Continental Airlines, Inc. ("Continental"), Continental Express, Inc. ("Continental Express") and Aeroflot

1/ The Regional Business Partnership of the Metro Newark Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit business organization which advocates the economic growth and development of the northeastern region of New Jersey. The partnership sponsors conferences, seminars and training in international trade, small business, regional marketing and the development of Newark.

Consolidated Answer of Regional Business Partnership (Newark) / Page 2

Russian International Airlines (the "Joint Applicants") on November 6, 1997. Travelers and shippers who rely on Newark International Airport will benefit greatly from Continental and Aeroflot nonstop Newark-Moscow service, and approving the code-share will advance the U.S. objectives of "[i]ncreas[ing] the variety of price and service options available to consumers" and "[e]nhancing access of the U.S. cities to the international air transportation system." 2/

Newark eagerly awaits the first-ever Newark-Moscow service, which Continental plans to begin in April 1998. Today the only U.S.-flag nonstop Moscow service for travelers in the huge Newark/New York gateway is provided by Delta via John F. Kennedy International Airport, and all nonstop and one-stop Newark/New York-Moscow service is via JFK. Continental's Newark-Moscow service will provide a welcome alternative for the many Newark/New York travelers who prefer Newark and will improve Newark's ability to compete with JFK for international travelers. Allowing Continental to code-share on its Moscow service will stimulate more traffic for this new service.

The continuing success of the region served by Newark International Airport in developing trade depends on additional service, and Continental's expansion of its Newark hub network to incorporate first-ever Newark-Moscow service and to code-share with Aeroflot on those flights (and connecting Continental/Continental Express flights between Newark and Boston, Cincinnati,

2/ U.S. International Air Transportation Policy Statement at 7 (April 1995).

Consolidated Answer of Regional Business Partnership (Newark) / Page 3

Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Kansas City and Minneapolis/St. Paul) is important to successful development of Newark as an international hub, as an alternative to the traditional, slot-controlled John F. Kennedy International gateway, where all the nonstop Newark/New York-Moscow service is now offered.

With Continental leading the way, Newark International Airport has become a major international gateway and the preferred airport for many travelers in the Newark/New York/Connecticut metropolitan area. Continental's hub at Newark will be serving almost 100 U.S. and foreign cities as of this winter. Allowing Continental to carry code-share traffic on its new Newark-Moscow service will help Newark and Continental compete with the existing JFK-Moscow services while, at the same time, allowing Continental and Aeroflot to offer additional options for travelers and shippers via Newark.

For the foregoing reasons, the Regional Business Partnership (Newark) urges the Department to grant the Joint Applicants' request for limited code-share authority as soon as possible.

Respectfully submitted,

Samuel Crane
President, Regional Business Partnership

November 21, 1997