US-China 2008 All-Cargo Frequencies

Served January 31, 2008

Notice Inviting Applications

On May 23, 2007, representatives of the United States and the People's Republic of China signed a memorandum of consultation amending the U.S.-PRC aviation agreement, greatly expanding opportunities for air carriers of both countries. These opportunities increase progressively through 2012. Effective March 25, 2008, the amended agreement provides for an additional 15 weekly all-cargo frequencies to serve points in China Zone 1 or China Zone 2. Only incumbent U.S. carriers that are currently designated to operate all-cargo services to China are eligible for the frequencies effective March 25, 2008.

We invite interested eligible carriers to file frequency applications for use of the available frequencies.' Except for the procedural dates, frequency applications should conform to Part 302, Subpart C of our regulations. All applications and other related requests should be filed with the Department of Transportation (U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C., 20590), and should include at a minimum and as applicable, the proposed startup date; routing from origin to destination of the proposed flight(s); day scheduled; and the duration of service, if not provided on a year-round basis; equipment type; and existing authority held to conduct the operation. Carriers may also present any additional information which they feel will facilitate a decision in this matter.

The subject all-cargo frequencies are available March 25, 2008. Therefore, we intend to proceed in this matter on an expedited procedural schedule to ensure that the selected carrier(s) will be in a position to commence services as soon as possible. Accordingly, we require that applications be filed no later than 10 calendar days from the date of service of this notice; answers should be filed 7 calendar days thereafter. Following receipt of these submissions, we will establish further procedures to handle the requests.

These are the frequencies that remained unallocated after the conclusion of the 2007 US-China Combination and All-Cargo Frequency Allocation Proceeding. See Notice of Action Taken, dated August 24, 2006, in Docket DOT-OST-2006-25275 and Notice of Action Taken, dated January 25, 2007, in Docket DOT-OST-2007-27069. Interested parties may apply for these frequencies as well.

As defined by the amended agreement, China Zone 1 consists of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. China Zone 2 consists of Fujian, Guangdong (except Guangzhou), Hebei, Jiangsu, Shandong, Tianjin, and Zhejiang

Also, available immediately are two all‑cargo frequencies to serve points in China Zone 1 or China Zone 2.

There are also 14 frequencies available for combination and/or all‑cargo services specifically limited to serving points in China Zone 2 that are not covered by this request for applications. Seven frequencies are available immediately and the remaining seven frequencies are available effective March 25, 2008. Interested parties may apply for these frequencies at any time.

US-China Agreement

By: Paul Gretch