OST-97-2721 / US Airways | July 15, 1997
NOTICE: Any person may support or oppose this application by filing an answer and serving a copy of the answer upon US Airways and all persons served with this application on or before July 30, 1997.
Application of
US AIRWAYS, INC.
for an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 40109
(Philadelphia- Grand Cayman)
Dated: July 15, 1997
APPLICATION OF US AIRWAYS, INC.
FOR AN EXEMPTION
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109 and Subpart D of the Department's Rules of Practice (14 C.F.R. Part 302), US Airways, Inc. applies for a two-year exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41101 to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. In support of this application, US Airways respectfully states as follows:
1. US Airways is a Delaware corporation with its principal office at Crystal Park Four, 2345 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22227.
2. US Airways is a citizen of the United States within the meaning of 49 U.S.C. § 40102(a)(15)(C) and is fit, willing and able to provide the services
Application of US Airways, Inc. Page 2
contemplated by this exemption application. US Airways holds various certificates of public convenience and exemption authorities. See e.g.,
Orders 97-7-2 and 96-3-17. Pursuant to Rule 24 of the Department's Rules of Practice, US Airways requests that the Department take official notice of all information previously filed to establish US Airways' fitness.
3. By this application, US Airways seeks a two-year exemption authorizing it to conduct scheduled air transportation of persons, property and mail between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. In February 1998, US Airways plans to inaugurate daily service to Grand Cayman, utilizing Boeing 737400 aircraft configured for 144 seats. A route map illustrating US Airways' service pattern is attached as
Exhibit A. Illustrative service schedules are included as Exhibit B. and US Airways' annual operating statistics and estimated fuel consumption are detailed in Exhibit C.
4. US Airways will be the only airline, foreign or domestic, offering nonstop or single-plane flights between Philadelphia and Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman is an important addition to US Airways' expanding international services from its Philadelphia hub. US Airways' operations will enhance commerce and tourism, provide significant benefits to these communities, and expand the competitive
Application of US Airways, Inc. Page 3
options available to the travelling and shipping public. The exemption also will enable US Airways to offer convenient on-line service to Grand Cayman from many U.S. communities via its Philadelphia hub.
5. US Airways' application is fully consistent with the Air Services Agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as the frequency limitations currently in place between the U.S. and the Cayman Islands.
6. US Airways will accept and abide by all terms, limitations and conditions which the Department normally attaches to exemption authority for foreign air transportation.
7. As detailed in Exhibit C, US Airways' fuel consumption for the proposed new service would not exceed the ten million gallon threshold specified in Section 313.4(a)(1) of the Department's regulations. US Airways anticipates no difficulties in obtaining adequate fuel supplies for this service.
WHEREFORE, US Airways, Inc. requests that the Department grant it an exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41101, effective for a period of two years, authorizing
Application of US Airways, Inc. Page 4
US Airways to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
Respectfully submitted,
ZUCKERT, SCOUTT & RASENBERGER, L.L.P.
D. Mathias
Frank J. Costello
Cathleen P. Peterson
888 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 298-8660
Counsel for US Airways, Inc.
July 15, 1997