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Updated: Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:18 AM


OST-2007-0124 - Aerolineas Mesoamericanas - Mexico-US Scheduled Passenger

http://www.alma.com.mx/


Aerolineas Mesoamericanas, S.A. de C.V. / Alma de Mexico

OST-2007-0124 - Foreign Air Carrier Permit and Exemption - Mexico-US Scheduled Passenger

December 21, 2007

Application for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit and Exemption

ALMA is a new low-cost airline based in Guadalajara that has been shaking up regional travel in Mexico since it operated its first flight from Guadalajara to Puebla in June 2006. Since then, ALMA has grown quickly. At this time, it operates services to 26 destinations within Mexico, and now it aims to bring low-fare service and much-needed competition to the U.S.-Mexico market. Initially, ALMA proposes to operate three weekly roundtrip flights between Guadalajara and Las Vegas. This new service will enhance competition in the U.S.-Mexico market and offer travelers an attractive, low-fare competitive alternative to services provided by major U.S. and Mexican carriers.

ALMA is seeking Foreign Air Carrier Permit and related exemption that would enable it to provide scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between:

Guadalajara, Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada; and
Guadalajara, Mexico, and San Antonio, Texas.

ALMA plans to commence its scheduled U.S.-Mexico service using Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft between Guadalajara and Las Vegas by the second week of February 2008, and between Guadalajara and San Antonio by the second week of June 2008.

Counsel: Holland & Knight, Anita Mosner



December 21, 2007

Motion for Confidential Treatment

Aerolineas Mesoamericanas S.A. de C.V. has applied today in this Docket for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit and related exemption that would enable it to provide scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between Guadalajara, Mexico, on the one hand, and Las Vegas, Nevada and San Antonio, Texas, on the other hand.

Counsel: Holland & Knight, Anita Mosner, 202-955-3000, anita.mosner@hklaw.com



February 11, 2008

Re: Support of City of San Antonio

It is our great pleasure to advise that the City of San Antonio supports the ALMA Airline application to the U.S. Department of Transportation to initiate international service between San Antonio and Guadalajara and its Mexico network of destinations. ALMA's low-fare services between Guadalajara and San Antonio would enhance trade & business opportunities and provide benefits to passengers.

By: Aviation Director, Mark Webb



April 8, 2008

First Amended Application for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit and Exemption

In its December 21st Application, ALMA requested authority to provide scheduled service between (a) Guadalajara, Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada, and (b) Guadalajara, Mexico, and San Antonio, Texas. ALMA further requested authority to perform charter service pursuant to the 2005 U.S.-Mexico Agreement and Part 212 of the Department's regulations. ALMA now requests authority to provide scheduled service between Culiacan and Las Vegas as well.

At this time, no additional designation is available for the Guadalajara-Las Vegas route. ALMA expects a designation to become available soon. ALMA intends to petition the Mexican Government to be designated to provide service on this route, at which time the airline will provide DOT with a copy of the route license. ALMA respectfully requests that the Department defer action on its request for authority for this route.

ALMA's plans now also include service from Culiacan to Las Vegas. Initially, beginning around July 1, 2008, ALMA proposes to operate 3 weekly roundtrip flights between Culiacan and Las Vegas.

ALMA plans to commence its scheduled U.S.-Mexico service using Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft between Culiacan and Las Vegas by July 1, 2008. For service between Guadalajara and San Antonio, service is expected to commence August 1, 2008.

Counsel: Holland & Knight, Anita Mosner, 202-419-2604, anita.mosner@hklaw.com



Order 2008-6-4
OST-2007-0124 - Foreign Air Carrier Permit and Exemption - Mexico-US Scheduled Passenger

Issued and Served June 4, 2008

Order Granting Exemption and To Show Cause

Aerolineas Mesoamericanos, S.A. de C.V., a foreign air carrier of Mexico, requests an exemption under 49 U.S.C. §40109, and a foreign air carrier permit under 49 U.S.C. §41301, to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between: 1) Guadalajara, Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada; 2) Guadalajara, Mexico, and San Antonio, Texas; and 3) Culiacan, Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The applicant further requests authority to engage in charter trips in foreign air transportation as permitted by Annex II of the U.S.-Mexico Agreement, and other charters in accordance with Part 212 of the Department's economic regulations.

In its April 8 amendment, among other things, ALMA acknowledges the unavailability of a designation by the Government of Mexico in the Guadalajara-Las Vegas market and requests that the Department defer action on that portion of ALMA' s application.

We grant ALMA exemption authority to permit it to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between: 1) Guadalajara, Mexico, and San Antonio, Texas; and 2) Culiacan, Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada. We also grant the applicant exemption authority to engage in charter foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between Mexico and the United States, and other charter operations in accordance with 14 CFR Part 212. We will tentatively grant ALMA a foreign air carrier permit for these services. At the request of ALMA, we defer action on the Guadalajara-Las Vegas portion of its application.

ALMA states that its Chairman, all members of its Board of Directors, and all but one of its key management personnel are Mexican citizens. The record indicates that approximately 98.9% of ALMA's shares are held by Mexican entities and citizens.

By: Paul Gretch



Order 2008-8-26
OST-2007-0124 - Foreign Air Carrier Permit and Exemption - Mexico-US Scheduled Passenger

Issued June 26, 2008 | Served August 27, 2008

Final Order

By Order 2008-6-4, issued June 4, 2008, we directed all interested persons to show cause why we should not make final our tentative findings and conclusions stated therein and award a foreign air carrier permit in the form attached to the Order and subject to the conditions attached thereto. We gave interested persons 21 days to file objections to the Order. We said that if no objections are filed, all further procedural steps shall be deemed waived, and the Department will enter an order (subject to Presidential review under 49 USC §41307) which will make final the findings and conclusions of the Order.

No objections were received within the time period provided.

By: Paul Gretch


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