The University of Georgia

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1 a I785 The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government International Center for Democratic Governance October 7, Seventh Street, SW Washington, DC RE: Docket # OST I I This letter is supports Delta Air Lines' application to begin providing daily nonstop flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Beijing, China in March This service would be valuable for the efforts of the International Center for Democratic Government and other units of the University of Georgia that are working with partners in China. Our Center has provided public administration education programs in China for the past six years. The programs are carried out with educational partners in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Xining, Chengdu, Nanchang, and other locations. We hope to expand these programs and to find other ways to build cooperative programs between China and the University of Georgia. Through our programs, we send about a dozen instructors a year to China and host sixty to eighty Chinese in Georgia. We believe our programs are just one element of increasingly important links that are being made between states in the Southeast and China. Delta's Atlanta-Beijing proposal will be particularly beneficial to passengers - such as those from the University of Georgia -who travel to China from Georgia and the entire Southeastern United States. Also, it will be beneficial for Chinese who travel to this area for education and business. The Southeast now lacks a US.-China gateway. As the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the perfect choice as a new gateway to China. The new flights will provide the Southeast with the opportunity to reach China much more quickly and conveniently. And selecting Delta's Atlanta to Beijing proposal would also maximize competition in the U.S.-China market. I strongly urge the selection of Delta Air Lines for service beginning in March I have no doubt that adding this new way to fly to China will best serve the most customers in the United States and China than any other of the alternatives. Dr. Dan Durning Director 1242 S. Lumpkin Street Athens, Georgia Telephone (706) Fax (706) An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution

2 ; # 2/? COCA-COLA PLAZA AT LAN T A. G E 0 R 0 I A MARY E. MINNICK EXECUTWE VICE PRESIDENT PRL5IDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER COCA-COLA ASIA GROUP October 12,2004 ADDRESS REPLY TO PO BOX 1730 Honorable Norman Y. Mineta United States Department of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, SW Room Washmgton, DC Dear Mr. : VTA FACSIMILE and FEDERAL EXPRESS...I I am writing in support of Delta Airlines application to begin service in March 2006 between Atlanta, Georgia and Beijing, China (DOT Docket # OST ). This will be the first time in over 20 years that a new passenger air carrier will be chosen to serve the important U.S.-China air route. As President and Chief Operating Officer for The Coca-Cola Company s Asia Group, I would like to add my support to Delta s application. As you know, The Coca-Cola Company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and a new direct, non-stop route would be most beneficial to our Company. China is now the fifth largest market ir.the world for Coca-Cola and it is a market that will continue to grow. In addition, our Company is one of the major sponsors of the Olympic Games. The 2008 Games will held in Beijing, China and our Company is a major partner for this global sporting event. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and is Delta s largest hub. When service is opened from Atlanta, it will be possible to have direct nonstop service to Beijing with connections to over 100 cities in the Eastern and Southeastern United States. Furthermore, as you know, the Southeast region of the United States is one of the fastest growing regions for trade and travel to China. I The Coca-Cola Company hopes that serious consideration will be given to the application of Delta Airlines for service beginning in March 2006 between Atlanta, Georgia and Beijing, China. With appreciation for your time, assistance, and consideration in this matter and with all best wishes, Mary E. Minnick

3 TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT WILLIAM SNODGRASS~ENNESSEE TOWER BUILDING, 2 5 FLOOR, ~ ~ 312 8TH AVENUE NORTH, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE SUSAN HINCHCLIFF WHITAKER COMMISSIONER October 1 1,2004 PHIL BREDESEN GOVERNOR of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Room Washington, D.C Re: DOT Docket #OST , Thank you for all the hard work in securing new passenger and cargo flights with the People's Republic of China. Your efforts will greatly enhance the nation's economic development and tourism development efforts. The purpose of this letter is to support Delta Airlines' application for an allocation of U.S.-China passenger carrier frequencies in the above-referenced docket. Compared with the rest of the country, the southeast United States has considerably less access to China. Delta's proposed daily nonstop passenger ff ight between Atlanta, Georgia and Beijing, China will help offset this access concern by creating passenger opportunities that will generate tourist development for our region. I understand that there is strong competition among major airlines for these routes. But Delta Airlines' can reach a wide, previously untapped population base and offers the most productive economic return. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's largest hub airport and will offer over 100 cities a new one-stop connection to China. Taking into account Tennessee and the surrounding area's recent economic, tourism and population boom, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the benefits that will occur from this move. Sincerely, Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. Susan Whitaker

4 Matthew Kisber Commissioner Department of Economic and Community Development William Snodgrass/Tennessee Tower Building, 1 lth Floor, th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee I FAX: October 6, 2004 Phil Bredesen Governor of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Room Washington, D.C Re: 2005/2006 U.S.-China Air Services DOT Docket # OST I would like to offer my congratulations and thanks to you and your team for all the hard work in securing new passenger and cargo flights with the People s Republic of China. Your efforts will greatly enhance our country s economic development efforts. The purpose of this letter is to support Delta Airlines application for an allocation of U.S.-China passenger carrier frequencies in the above-referenced docket. Compared with the rest of the country, the southeastern portion of the United States has significantly less access to China. Delta s proposed daily nonstop passenger flight between Atlanta, Georgia and Beijing, China can help ease this discrepancy by offering passenger opportunities that will open up business and tourist opportunities to an entire region. It is understandable that valuable flights such as these create strong competition amongst the major airlines. However, please consider the unique impact that Delta Airlines brings to the table. They can reach the widest, previously untapped population base and offer the most productive economic return. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world s largest hub airport and will offer over 100 cities a new one-stop connection to China. Taking into account Tennessee and the surrounding area s recent economic and population boom, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the benefits that will occur from this move. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if my staff or I can be of further assistance. MWjee Matt hew Kisber Commissioner

5 GE Energy John G. Rice President and CEO October 6, Seventh Street, SW Washington, DC S 10-04/ RE: Docket # OST We are writing in support of Delta Air Lines application to inaugurate daily nons& flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Beijing, ChinaSn March For the first time in more than 20 years, the U.S. has an opportunity to designate a new passenger carrier to serve this important market... Delta s Atlanta-Beijing proposal will be particularly beneficial to passengers traveling to and from Georgia and the entire Southeastern United States - one of the fastest growing, but most critically underserved regions in terms of U.S.-China gateways. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world, and Delta s largest hub, and is the perfect choice as a gateway to China. A nonstop flight to Beijing from Atlanta would provide nonstop-to-nonstop service to customers in more than 100 cities and 53 communities would have their first one-stop service to China. Selecting Delta s Atlanta to Beijing proposal would also maximize competition in the U.S. China market. Today, all nonstop U.S.-China service is from the West and Midwest. Atlanta will provide the strongest gateway competition and a necessary balance currently lacking in this market. Georgia and the entire Southeastern region are one of the fastest growing areas for trade and travel to China. Delta s proposal will clearly provide the most beneficial use of these limited, valuable new rights for the traveling and shipping public. We strongly urge the selection of Delta Air Lines for service beginning in March resident & CEO General Electric Company 4200 Wildwood Parkway T Atlanta, GA F U.S.A. E john.riceqps.ge.com

6 72 Thompson Street #23 New York, NY September 2004 US. Department of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, SW Suite Washington, D.C Re: Docket # OST /2006 US.-China Air Services Case and Designations We congratulate you and the Department on securing the recent agreement to provi expanded opportunities to serve the U.S.-China market. These valuable rights wi benefits to American citizens and businesses into the foreseeable future. We feel the obvious candidate to receive route authority and offer our utmost support for its application. The US.-China market painfiilly needs competition to assure consumers of competitive fares. For this reason, the Department should summarily reject United s application. An award to United would merely perpetuate the existing duopoly long exploited by United and Northwest. The Department has the rare chance to open up the US.-China market to new competition which it should not squander. Of all the applicants for combination frequencies, only Delta would provide service to a new gateway. Notwithstanding Continental s assertions to the contrary, Newark Airport is not a new gateway. New York already enjoys non-stop service to Beijing. As anyone living in Manhattan can observe, Continental s barrage of advertising clearly reveals its belief that Newark serves as a substitute for JFK. In its current System Timetable, Continental designates EWR as New York / Newark Liberty (emphasis added). No doubt its traffic forecasts will utilize demand data derived from both JFK and LaGuardia airports. Delta, in comparison, would provide truly new service at its Atlanta gateway. Delta would provide the eastern U.S., particularly the Southeast, with convenient and competitive service to an important market in East Asia. It has already demonstrated Atlanta s viability as an East Asian gateway through its successful Atlanta-Tokyo service. The southeastern U.S. currently faces paltry service options to China despite experiencing a population explosion in recent years. The other applicants merely seek to bolster the already sufficient service options available to the declining populations of the Northeast and Midwest. An award to Delta for Atlanta-Beijing service would help to remedy this imbalance of service. As New Yorkers, we asshe the Department that we do not need any more non-stop service to China. The Department should grant Delta s superior application for China service. Sarah Jorgensen Toby &oberts