The Honorable James M. Inhofe United States Senate Washington, DC 2051 0 Dear SenatorInhofe: AprillO, 2012 

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Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofSouthwest Airlines fot two within-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). These two slot exemptions are available for reallocation under 49 U.S.C. § 41718(b) as a result ofthe return oftwo exemptions that had eadierbeen granted for service to Jackson, Mississippi. Two slot exemptions would supportone daily round trip from DCA. Southwest;s application, which the

## u.s. Department ofTransportation received on March 

### 5, proposes to serve Will Rogers World AirportinOklahoma City from DCA with one round trip perday. Other timely applications forthe exemptions were received from Frontier Airlinesj proposing service to Louisville, Kentucky, and US Airways. proposing to continue service to Jackson. As the matter is still pending, I cannot comrnent on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, Ican assure you that alJ applications the Departmentreceives will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified by statute. The Department's action on this matteris being administered through apublic docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, I am placing acopy of

### yout letter and this response in. c.ket DOT-2000-7182. Asimilar response has been sentto ea ·ate yourinterest in this matter.The Honorable Tom Coburn United Sta:te.s Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Coburn: THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 AprillO, 2012

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofSouthwest Airlines for two Within-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). These two slotexemptions are available for reallocation under 49 U.S.C. § 41718{b) as a result ofthe return oftwo exemptions thathad earlierbeen granted for service to Jackson, Mississippi. Two slot exemptions would support one daily round trip from DCA. Southwest's application, which the U.S. Department ofTransportation received on March 5, proposes to serve Will Rogers World Airport.in Oklahoma City from DCA with one round trip per day. Other timely applications for the exemptions were received from FrontierAirlines, proposing service to Louisville, Kentucky, and 

### US Airways, proposing to continue service to Jackson. · As the matter is stitl pending, I cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, I can as$ure you that all applications the Department receives will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified by statute. The Department's action on this matter is being administered through apublic docket, which allows all interested partie.s the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, I 

### am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in docket DOT·2000-7182. Asimilarresponse has been sent to 

### each o · ofyour letter. I appreciate your interestin this matter,THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable Dan Boren U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Boren: AprlllO, 2012

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofSouthwest Airlines for two**within~perimeter** slot exemptions atRonald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). These two slot exemptions are available for reallocation under 49 U.S.C. § 4l718(b) 

### as aresult ofthe return oftwo exemptions thathad earlier been granted for service to Jackson, Mississippi. Two slot exemptions would support one daily round trip from DCA, Southwest's application, which the U.S. Department oftransportation received on March 5, proposes to serve WiU Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City from DCA with one round trip per day. Othertimely applications 

### tor the exemptions were received from Frontier Airlines., proposing serviceto Louisville, Kentucky, and US Airways, proposing to continue service to Jackson. As the matteris still pending, I cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised 

### in your letter. However, 1

### can assure you that all applications the Department receives will be given fuU and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified by statute. The. Department's action on this matter is being adm.inistered through a public docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment Following our normal**ptactic~** I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response docket

### DOT**~2000-7182.** A similarresponse has been sent to each • te your interest in this matter.THE SECRETARY OFTRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590



### The Honorable Frank Lucas U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 DearCongressman Lucas: AprillO, 2012

Thank you for yourletter> cosigned by your congressional**colleagues~** supporting the application ofSouthwest Airlines fortwo within-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). These two slot exemptions are available for reallocation under 49 U.S.C. §41718(b) as a result ofthe return oftwo exemptions that had earlier been granted for service to Jackson, Mississippi. Two slot exemptions would support .one daily round trip from DCA. Southwest's application, which the U.S. Department ofTransportation received on March 5, proposes to serve Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City from DCA with one round trip perday. Other timely applications for the exemptions were received from FrontierAirlines, proposing service to LmlisviUe,**Kentucky~** and US Airways, proposing to continue service to Jackson. · As the matteris still pending, I cannot com1nent on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter.**However~** I can assure you that all applications the Departmentreceives will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified by statute. The Departmenfs action on this matter is being administered through a public docket, which allows aU interestedparties the .opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice. I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response· docket DOT-2000-7182. A similarresponse bas been sent to each matter.THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable James Lankford U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 DearCongressman Lankford: AprillO, 2012

Thank you for your letter, eosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofSouthwest Airlines for two within

..perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). These two sJot exemptions**~** available for reallocation under 49 U.S.C. §41718(b) as aresult ofthe return oftwo exemptions that had earlierbeen granted for service to Jackson, Mississippi. Two slot exemptions would supportone daily round trip fromDCA.

. . Southwest's application, which the U.S. Department.ofTransportation received on March 5, proposes to serve Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City from DCA with one round trip perdEzy. Othertimely applications for the exemptions were received from FrontierAirlines, proposing service to Louisville. Kentucky. and US Airways. proposing to continue service to Jackson. As thematter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter.**However~** I can assure you that all applications the Departmentreceives will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated againstthe selection criteria specified by statute. The Department's action on this matter is being administered through apublic docket, Which allows all interestedparties the opportunity to comment FoJlowing our normal practice, Iam placing a copy ofyow: letter and this response in doeket DOT-2000-7182. Asimilarresponse has been sent to matter.THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable Tom Cole U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Cole: AprlllO, 2012

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofSouthwest Airlines for two**within~**perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Ait-pott (DCA). These two slot exemptions are available for reallocationunder 49 U.S.C.§ 417l8(b) as a result ofthe return 

### of two exemptions thathad earlier been granted for service to Jackson, Mississippi. 

## two slot exemptions would support one daily round trip from DCA. Southwest's application* which the U.S. Department ofTransportation reeeived on March 5, proposes to serve Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City from DCA wi:th one round trip per day. Othertimely applications for the exemptions were received from FrontierAirlines, proposing service to Louisville,**Kentucky~** and US Airways, proposing to continue service to Jackson. As the matteris still pending, I cannot comment onthe merits ofthe points raised in yourletter.**However~** I can assure you that all applications the Departmentreceives will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified by statute. The Department's action on this matteris being administered through apublic docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, I am placing acopy ofyour letter and this response in docket DOT-2000-7182. A similarresponse.**b~** been sent to each cosigner ofyour letter. I appreciate yourinterest in this matter.THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable John Sullivan U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Sullivan: AprillO, 2012

Thankyou for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofSouthwest Airlines for two within-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). These two slot exemptions are available for reallocation under 49 U.S.C. § 41718(b) as aresult ofthe retum oftwo exemptions that had earlierbeen granted for service to Jackson, Mississippi. Two slot exemptions would support one daily round trip from DCA. Southwest's application, which the U.S. Department ofTransportation received on March 5, proposes to serve Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City from DCA with one round trip per day. Other timely applications for the exemptions were received from Frontier Airlines, proposing service to Louisville, Kentucky, and US Airways{ proposing to continue service to Jackson. As the matteris still pending, 1cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, 1can assure you that all applications the Department receives will he given full and fair consideration and will be evaluatedagainst the selection criteria specified by statute. The Department's action ().n this tnatter is being administered through apublic docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comtnent. Following our normal practice, I am placing acopy ofyourletter andthis reS;ponse in docket DOT-2000

..7182. Asimilar response has been sent t erofyour letter. I appreciate your interest in this matter.

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The Honorable Ray Laliood Secretary ofTransportation U.S. DepartmentofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20590 March**12~2012**

Re: Docket.OST-2000..;7182 Dear Secretary LaHood: In the interest pfincreasing airline competition, improving access to small communities and lowering.aitfares at Ronald Reagan National Ahport {DCA), we strongly supportthe application ofSouthwest Airlines (Southwest) for apair ofslot exemptions for daily nonstop service between DCA .and Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City (OKC). Southwest's proposal would generate significant public benefits for consumers ofair travel in Oklahoma, Washington, De;,. and other markets. Uponreviewing Southwest's application forDCA-OKC service, we are particularly persuaded by the factthatSouthwest's proposal satisfies the maximum number ofcongressionally-created criteria for awarding these slot exemptions under 49 U.S.C. § 41718(b). We specifically note the following:
1. Southwestis a "limited incumbent air carrier,".as that term in defined at 49 U.S.C. § 41714(h)(5), As the nation's largest low-cost airline and the larges(U.S. airline interms. of domestic passengers, Southwest is significantlyunderrepresented at DCA. 2. Southwest's proposal would provide nonstop ait service to OklahomaCity, 

### avibrant community without existing nonstop DCA service today. Neither OKC notany other airport located within the State ofOklahomahas nonstop service to/from DCA. 3. OKC is a "small hub" commercial airport, as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). OKC is easily accessible to hundreds ofsmall and rural co11lll1uriities throughoutthe State ofOklahoma. 4. With a proven record ofreducing ticketprices and stimulating consumer demand in**th~** markets it serves, Southwest is uniquely positionedto use these slots to achieve maximum competitive benefits for consumers based at OKC, DCA and elsewhere. Traditionally, the



### §10-120312-024 PAINTED ON AECYCLEO PAPER**DCA~OKC** 

### market is over-priced and underserved. Today, the. average one-way fare between DCA-OKC is approximately $270 one-way for connecting service. We ate confidentthatnonstop service and increased .competitionfrom a low-fare leader like Southwest would reduce airfares and stimulate greater demand for airtravel 

### in the DCAOKC matket. 5. Southwest's proposed DCA-OKC servic.e would provide competitive benefits to communities beyond OKC and DCA, including Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas and Phoenix. In its application, Southwestproposes for the first time single-plane, one-stop service between Dallas Love Airport(DAL) and DCA(via OKC). Like OKC, DAL's current travel options to DCA are limited and, consequently, passengers traveling between DAL and DCA would benefitconsiderably. Moreover, Southwest'sproposal would.lmptove service options between DCA and several markets located beyond DCA's 1250-mile perimeter. Southwest's average fares from these markets are projected to be much lower than the average fares between DCA and these markets today. Itis importantto note that among the chiefbeneficiaries ofnonstop DCA-0KGservicewouldbe the thousands ofDepartment ofTransportation (DOT) employees based in Oklahoma City, who lackdirect and affordable access to the Nation's Capital. Oklahoma City is proud to be home to the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, one ofDOT's largest facilities outside ofWashington, DC. This facility serves as aregional office ofthe FAA and houses the FAA's**LogisticCenter~** 

### Academy and Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, as well as DOT's Enterptise Services Center and Transportation Safety Institute. AU ofthese DOT institutions would benefit significantly through the allocation ofslot exemptions for DCA-OKC service. Finally, Oklahoma is home to a significantmilitary presence. Both the miHtary and private contractors makefrequent trips to ournation's .capital, and this new service between the two cities will increase the efficiencyofthose efforts. Forthese reasons, we contend that Southwest's proposal for nonstop service betweenDCA and OKC isthe public interest, and 'we therefore urge the Departmentto grantthe two slot exemptions at issue in 

### this proceeding to Southwest Airlines so jt caninitiate service between DCA and OKC. Thank you for your consideration ofour views in this matter. Sincerely,

Senator Tom Coburn

### ..

Congressman Dan Boren

# k.Q~~ Congressman FiTucas -........

Congressman Tom Cole

S10-120312-024