American Airlines, Inc.

OST-2008-0186 - Allocation of Five Weekly Combination Frequencies - New York-Buenos Aires

June 10, 2008

Application for Allocation of Five Weekly Combination Frequencies

Hereby applies for the allocation of five additional U.S.-Argentina weekly combination frequencies in order to increase our nonstop service in the New York JFK-Buenos Aires market from seven weekly flights to 12, effective on or before December 18, 2008.

American proposes to operate the additional flights southbound on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and northbound on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, using 219-seat B767-300ER aircraft (30C/189Y).

American holds New York-Buenos Aires route authority in its certificate for Route 389, segment 1, as amended by Order 92-6-21, June 18, 1992 (renewal application pending) American's present daily service between New York JFK and Buenos Aires uses frequencies granted in the American-Eastern Route Transfer Order 90-5-5, May 3, 1990, and increased by Order 94-9-36, September 25, 1994.

On May 27, 2008, American announced the suspension of its daily nonstop service between Chicago and Buenos Aires, effective September 3, 2008. Those seven frequencies, awarded by Notice of Action Taken, DOT-OST-2007-28766, August 21, 2007, will expire automatically 90 days after service ends and revert to the Department for reallocation. As of March 21, 2009, 112 U.S.-Argentina weekly frequencies will be available, but only half that number are currently being operated.

On June 9, 2008, Delta Air Lines, Inc. applied for exemption authority and the allocation of five weekly frequencies to provide New York JFK-Buenos Aires service beginfling on or about December 18, 2008 (DOT-OST-2008-0185). There are ample frequencies available to satisfy the requests of both American and Delta. American does not object to Delta's application, provided that American's request here is contemporaneously approved.

The Department's policy is to grant limited-entry authority to carriers with firm service plans. See Notice of Action Taken, DOT-OST-2007-28057, June 29, 2007. American has firm plans to operate five additional weekly flights in the New York JFK-Buenos Aires market starting on or before December 18, 2008.

Counsel: American, Carl Nelson, 202-496-5647

June 12, 2008

Re: Polling Results

We have received non-objections from each of the carrier part we served. Delta's non-objection is subject to the proviso that the Department contemporaneously grant Delta's application for New York JFK-Buenos Aires authority pending in OST 2008-0185.

Accordingly, the Department should promptly and contemporaneously grant American's and Delta's applications in the two dockets.

Counsel: American, Carl Nelson, 202-496-5647

Filed June 10, 2008 | Issued June 17, 2008

Notice of Action Taken

Allocation of five weekly U.S.-Argentina combination service frequencies for scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between New York, New York and Buenos Aires, Argentina. American states that it holds New York-Buenos Aires route authority in its certificate for Route 389, segment 1, as amended by Order 1992-6-21. American further states that it proposes to use the frequencies requested here to increase its nonstop service in the New York (JFK)-Buenos Aires market from seven weekly flights to twelve, effective on or before December 18, 2008.

In its June 12, 2008 submission to the Department reporting its polling results, American states that it received non-objections to its application from each of the carriers served. American notes that it was advised by Delta Air Lines that Delta does not object to the request of American provided that the Department contemporaneously grants Delta’s pending application for New York (JFK)-Buenos Aires authority (see Docket OST-2008-0185).

By: Paul Gretch