	

                    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

            DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

                    OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

                             WASHINGTON, DC

                                   	Issued by the Department of
Transportation on February 20, 2004

		       NOTICE OF ACTION TAKEN -- DOCKET OST-2004-16941

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This serves as notice to the public of the action described below, taken
by the Department official indicated (no additional confirming order
will be issued in this matter).

Application of Continental Airlines, Inc.  filed  1/20/04  for:

XX  Allocation of seven additional weekly U.S.-Ecuador combination
frequencies to provide a second daily Houston-Ecuador service.

Continental states that it plans to institute daily, nonstop round-trip
flights between Houston and Quito and between Houston and Guayaquil on
June 10, 2004.  It states that it currently holds seven frequencies
under which it operates a daily Houston-Quito-Guayaquil-Houston flight
and that in order to institute its proposed services, it will require an
additional seven frequencies.  

The City of Houston and the Greater Houston Partnership filed a joint
answer in support of Continental’s application.

Applicant rep:    R. Bruce Keiner, Jr.  (202) 624-2615      DOT Analyst:
 Linda Senese  (202) 366-2367

D I S P O S I T I O N

XX  Granted (subject to conditions, see below)

The above action was effective when taken:  February 20, 2004, and will
remain in effect indefinitely, subject to conditions described below. 

Action taken by:   Paul L. Gretch, Director	

		    Office of International Aviation	

XX  The authority granted is consistent with the civil aviation
agreement between the United States and Ecuador.

 

Except to the extent exempted or waived, this authority is subject to
the terms, conditions, and limitations indicated: 

    XX  Holder’s Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity

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Conditions:  Consistent with our standard practice, the frequency
allocation granted is subject to the condition that if any of the
frequencies are not used for a period of 90 days, the allocation as to
that unused frequency will expire automatically and the frequency will
revert to the Department for reallocation.  The 90-day dormancy period
will begin on June 10, 2004, the date on which Continental proposes
operations with these frequencies. 

(See Reverse Side)

2

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On the basis of data officially noticeable under Rule 24(g) of the
Department’s regulations, we found the applicant qualified to provide
the services authorized.

Under authority assigned by the Department in its regulations, 14 CFR
Part 385, we found that (1) our action was consistent with Department
policy and  (2) grant of the authority was consistent with the public
interest.  To the extent not granted, we denied all requests in the
referenced Docket.  We may amend, modify, or revoke the authority
granted in this Notice at any time without hearing at our discretion. 

Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of the action set
forth in this Notice under the Department’s regulations, 14 CFR
§385.30, may file their petitions within seven (7) days after the date
of issuance of this Notice.  This action was effective when taken, and
the filing of a petition for review will not alter such effectiveness.

An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide
Web at:

  HYPERLINK "http://dms.dot.gov//reports/reports_aviation.asp" 
http://dms.dot.gov//reports/reports_aviation.asp 

