Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.

OST-2008-0248 - Statement of Authorization - Mail Codesharing with United Air Lines

August 14, 2008

Application for a Statement of Authorization

Codeshare Agreement

Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. and United Air Lines, Inc. have entered into a codeshare and regulatory cooperation agreement for the carriage of mail. Under the Codeshare Agreement, Virgin Atlantic will display United's "UA" designator code on certain flights operated by Virgin Atlantic from any point or points behind the United States via any point or points in the United States and via intermediate points, to any point or points in any Member State of the European Union and beyond.

Virgin Atlantic holds the necessary underlying economic authority to provide these services. The Department has granted to Virgin Atlantic a foreign air carrier permit that permits it to provide the full scope of foreign air transportation available to EU carriers under the new U.S.-EU Agreement, including, inter alia, scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail from any point or points behind any Member State of the European Union, via any point or points in any Member State and via intermediate points, to any point or points in the United States and beyond;. See Order 2007-10-16.

The carriers plan to open these services for sale and to implement the codeshare arrangement as soon as possible, so Virgin Atlantic requests expedited review and approval of this Application. In addition, Virgin Atlantic requests that the Department grant the Statement of Authorization for an indefinite period, so long as the Codeshare Agreement remains in effect.

UA designator code on: All Virgin Atlantic flights between Newark, New York (JFK), Chicago, and Miami, on the one hand, and London Heathrow and points beyond, on the other.

Counsel: Holland & Knight, Anita Mosner, 202-419-2604

Filed August 14, 2008 | Date of Action September 12, 2008

Department Action on Application

Application of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. for a statement of authorization to permit Virgin Atlantic to display the UA designator code of United Air Lines, Inc. for mail-only codeshare operations from any point or points behind the United States via any point or points in the United States and via intermediate points, to any point or points in any Member State of the European Union and beyond for the carriage of mail.

By: Shelita Smith