Petition in support of the Hawaiian Airlines/Japan Airlines joint application to create an antitrust immunized joint venture

The Honorable Elaine Chao
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590

RE:  Docket Number DOT-OST-2018-0084

Dear Secretary Chao,

We, the undersigned, are employees and passengers of Hawaiian Airlines.  We urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve the “Joint Application for Approval of and Antitrust Immunity for Alliance Agreements” submitted by Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines on June 14, 2018.

Tourism is the foundation of Hawai’i's economy, and the proposed Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) will provide manifold benefits for the archipelago of Hawai’i.  The Proposed Alliance will stimulate visitor arrivals, resulting in vastly increased consumer spending and local jobs.  It will allow our hometown carrier to compete against the two immunized alliances already operating in the Hawai’i-Japan market, offering consumers enhanced route choices, more efficient connectivity and reduced fares.

This Joint Application provides a clear benefit to consumers and to the U.S. economy and we strongly support its approval.

Mahalo for your consideration.