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OST-2003-15131 - Northwest Airlines - US-Iraq Exemption
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Northwest Airlines, Inc. May 7, 2003 OST-03-15131 - US-Iraq Exemption Northwest may provide this service by codesharing with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines under the carriers’ blanket statement of authorization for open skies codeshare operations. See Department Approval, May 21, 1999 (undocketed). KLM does not currently serve Iraq, but plans to begin service to Baghdad once it receives all necessary governmental authorities. Counsel: Northwest, Megan Rae Rosia, 202-842-3193 May 15, 2003 OST-03-15031 - World Airways - US-Afghanistan/Iraq Consolidated Answer of Delta Air Lines Delta stands ready, willing and able to provide new service to Iraq, which will provide important benefits to support the post-war reconstruction and humanitarian relief efforts now underway in Iraq. Unlike several carriers that have recently sought new certificate and exemption authority, Delta already holds underling authority to serve Baghdad by virtue of its existing certificate on Segment 3 of Route 616. Order 91-10-33. Delta is evaluating a variety of service options, involving direct, and/or codeshare flights. Delta expects that the U.S. Government will foster and promote a liberalized air service regime with Iraq, so that U. S. and Iraqi travelers can enjoy the import benefits of competitive air service, as Iraq resumes a more prominent role in the global economy. However, to the extent air service opportunities may be limited in the near term, Delta hereby places the Department on notice of Delta's intention to serve Baghdad. Under Ashbacker Radio Corp. v. FCC, 326 U.S. 327 (1945), Delta is entitled to contemporaneous consideration along with the other pending requests for U.S.-Iraq service. Counsel: Delta and Shaw Pittman, Robert Cohn, 202-663-8060 May 22, 2003 OST-03-15135 - US-Iraq Exemption Answer of Evergreen International Airlines Evergreen International Airlines, Inc. does not oppose the application of Northwest (or those of North American and World), but it does suggest that prior to acting on these applications, the Department should determine the nature of the aviation relationship between the U.S. and Iraq. If that relationship is to be "open" so that any U.S. airline interested in serving Iraq will be permitted to do so, then granting the applications of Northwest and the others would be consistent with the public interest. On the other hand, if the relationship is going to be restricted so that entry is limited, the Department should not grant the applications, but rather should institute a comparative proceeding and invite other U.S. airlines to file applications to serve the route. It is clear that air transportation, including all-cargo air service, is critical to the successful rebuilding of Iraq and the stabilization of U.S-Iraq commercial relationships. Evergreen is very interested in providing all-cargo service in the U.S.-Iraq market and hopes to be in a position to provide such service in the near future; however, it has not yet filed an application for authority because it currently is not able to implement service in an expedited fashion. Evergreen's concern is that if the aviation relationship proves to be restrictive, a grant of the pending applications may deny Evergreen and others the opportunity to demonstrate that they should be selected for the route. Counsel: Verner Liipfert, William Evans |
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