			  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

		        DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

			  OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

			          WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation on August 11, 2004

NOTICE OF ACTION TAKEN -- DOCKET OST-2004-18860

________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________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 NORTHWEST AIRLINES, INC., filed 8/6/04 for:

XX  Exemption authority, for two years, under 49 U.S.C. §40109 to
provide the following service:

Scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail
between the terminal point Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, and the
terminal point Mazatlan, Mexico.  

Applicant rep:   Megan Rae Rosia (202) 842-3193    DOT Analyst:  Linda
L. Lundell (202) 366-2336

D I S P O S I T I O N

XX  Granted, subject to conditions (see below).

The action above was effective when taken: August 11, 2004 through
August 11, 2006. 

Action taken by:     Paul L. Gretch, Director	

  		        Office of International Aviation	

XX  Authority granted is consistent with the aviation agreement between
the United States and Mexico.

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

XX  Standard Exemption Conditions (attached)

________________________________________________________________________
____________________Special Conditions:  The U.S.-Mexico exemption
authority granted is subject to the dormancy notice requirements set
forth in condition 7 of Appendix A of Order 88-10-2.  Consistent with
our policy, the dormancy notice period will begin on January 8, 2005,
Northwest’s proposed startup date for these services. 

Remarks:  We acted on this application without awaiting expiration of
the 15-day answer period with the consent of all parties served with the
application.

________________________________________________________________________
____________________

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; (2) grant of the authority was consistent with the public
interest; and (3) grant of the authority would not constitute a major
regulatory action under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975.

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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_aviation.asp" 
http://dms.dot.gov/reports_aviation.asp 

U.S. Carrier Exemption Conditions

In the conduct of the operations authorized, the U.S. carrier
applicant(s) shall:

(1)  Hold at all times effective operating authority from the government
of each country served;

(2)  Comply with applicable requirements concerning oversales contained
in 14 CFR 250 (for scheduled operations, if authorized);

(3)  Comply with the requirements for reporting data contained in 14 CFR
241;

(4)  Comply with requirements for minimum insurance coverage, and for
certifying that coverage to the Department, contained in 14 CFR 205;

(5)  Except as specifically exempted or otherwise provided for in a
Department Order, comply with the requirements of 14 CFR 203, concerning
waiver of Warsaw Convention liability limits and defenses;

(6)  Comply with all applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation
Administration and with all applicable U.S. Government requirements
concerning security, including, but not limited to, 49 CFR Part 1544. 
To assure compliance with all applicable U.S. Government requirements
concerning security, the holder shall, before commencing any new service
(including charter flights) to or from a foreign airport, contact its
International Principal Security Inspector (IPSI) to advise the IPSI of
its plans and to find out whether the Transportation Security
Administration has determined that security is adequate to allow such
airport(s) to be served; and

(7)  Comply with such other reasonable terms, conditions, and
limitations required by the public interest as may be prescribed by the
Department of Transportation, with all applicable orders and regulations
of other U.S. agencies and courts, and with all applicable laws of the
United States.

The authority granted shall be effective only during the period when the
holder is in compliance with the conditions imposed above.

   Under the U.S.-Mexico aviation agreement, up to a total of two U.S.
air carriers may be designated to serve a given city-pair market.  At
the time this application was filed, two U.S. air carriers were already
designated to provide direct-carrier services in the Minneapolis/St.
Paul-Mazatlan market (MN Airlines, LLC d/b/a Sun Country Airlines and
Grand Holdings, Inc., d/b/a Champion Air).  On August 10, 2004, Champion
Air advised the Department that its authority in the market is dormant. 
Thus, we will withdraw the designation of Champion Air to serve the
Minneapolis/St. Paul-Mazatlan market and will designate Northwest in its
place.  

05/2004

