OST-99-6166

OST-99-6166

Continental Airlines Inc.

OST-99-6166	August 24, 1999	Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and Frequency Allocation Scanned Copy	U.S.- Argentina
		Service List

Continental has been working tirelessly to develop a comprehensive U.S.-Latin America network, but one major gap remains: Buenos Aires. Expanding Continental's authority to include seven weekly Newark-Buenos Aires flights will enable Continental to compete effectively for New York/Newark-Buenos Aires traffic with American/Aerolineas Argentinas, which together dominate the U.S.-Argentina routes, and with United; to compete effectively with American and United for traffic between points throughout Continental's Newark route network and points throughout South America, and to provide enhanced competition between the United States and Argentina.3 Buenos Aires is the only major South American capital city not served by Continental's extensive network, and Continental's ability to offer comprehensive South America service at New York/Newark is critical to its ability to compete effectively with foreign airlines, American, United and their foreign partners for business and leisure travelers between New York/Newark and its catchment area, on the one hand, and South America, on the other hand.

Continental plans to operate daily nonstop Newark-Buenos Aires service beginning September 1, 2000, or 120 days after receipt of all necessary government authority, whichever is later. Continental is planning to use DC-10-30 aircraft to institute nonstop Newark-Buenos Aires service in 2000, but it intends to substitute B-767 or B-777 aircraft in the future to tailor capacity to demand as the route develops, additional aircraft are delivered to Continental and DC-10-30 aircraft are phased out of Continental's fleet.

Counsel: Crowell Moring, Bruce Keiner, 202.624.2500

Continental Airlines Inc./ Delta Air Lines Inc.

OST-99-6166
OST-99-6108

August 24, 1999

Motion to Modify Scope

Scanned Copy

U.S.- Argentina

Continental and Delta have submitted certificate applications for U.S.-Argentina certificate authority and mutually-exclusive requests for the seven U.S. Argentina frequencies which become available September 1, 2000. Continental asks the Department to consolidate the above-captioned applications and to establish a carrier selection proceeding to determine the award of U.S. -Argentina frequencies. Because the requests of Continental and Delta are mutually exclusive, they must receive contemporaneous consideration under the Ashbacker doctrine. Continental moves the Department to consolidate the above-captioned applications and establish a carrier selection proceeding.

Counsel: Continental and Crowell Moring, Bruce Keiner, 202.624.2500

New U.S.- Argentina Combination Service Opportunities

OST-99-6210

September 8, 1999

Notice

U.S.- Argentina Combination Service Opportunities

On August 12, 1999, representatives from the United States and Argentina initialed a Memorandum of Consultations and a set of amendments to the U.S.-Argentina Air Transport Services Agreement, providing for an open-skies accord between the countries after a three-year transition period for combination services. Under the terms of the transition, the number of U.S.-Argentina scheduled combination service frequencies that can be operated by U.S. carriers, beyond the 42 weekly flights that can be operated currently, can be increased in phases. Specifically, U.S. carriers may use seven additional frequencies per week beginning on September 1, 2000, and an additional seven each on June 1, 2001, and June 1, 2002. All frequency limitations between the U.S. and Argentina will be lifted by June of 2003, subject to certain conditions. There are no limitations on the number of U.S. carriers that may be designated to serve the market.

During the first phase of the transitional agreement (September 1, 2000 to May 31, 2001), U.S. carriers may serve from any points in the U.S. via intermediate points to Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and one additional point in Argentina to be selected by the U.S., and beyond to Santiago, Chile, and Montevideo, Uruguay. Under the second phase (June 1, 2001 to May 31, 2002), U.S. carriers may serve from any points in the U.S. via intermediate points to Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and two additional points in Argentina to be selected by the U.S., and beyond to Santiago, Chile, and Montevideo, Uruguay. In addition, under the second phase (June 1, 2001 to May 31, 2002), U.S. carriers may serve five additional points in Argentina to be selected by the U.S. on a code share basis only.

By this notice, we request that all U.S. carriers interested in making use of the frequencies available under the first two phases, i.e. seven frequencies beginning on September 1, 2000, and seven on June 1, 200 1, file applications as specified below with the Department no later than September 22, 1999. Answers to applications should be filed no later than September 29, 1999. Replies to answers should be filed no later than October 6, 1999.

By: Bradley Mims