THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

The Honorable Lamar Smith U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Smith: WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 April19, 2012 ", :'"i**~** 7 I i**·~** '·**"~** '": (i, Cl: I'' -l • /\ , .... 1 I

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofSouthwest Airlines for two beyond

.. perimeter slot exemption$ at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Southwesrs application proposes to serve Austin-Bergstrom International Airportwith one round trip perday from DCA. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Refonn Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slot exemptions atDCA, which would support four daily round trips. We received Southwest's application on March 12. Other timely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; AlaskaAirlines, one roundtrip to Portland, Oregon, and oneround trip to San Diego; FrontierAirlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Sun Country Airli.nes, one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin Amerioa, Inc., two round trips to San Francisco.**A~** the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, Ican assure you that all applications the Department received

### will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluatedagainstthe selection criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action onthis matteris being administered through apublic docket) which allows all interested parties the opp.ortunity to mment. Following. ournormal practice, Iam placing a copy ofyour letter and this respo docket number DOT-2{} 12-0029. Asimilarresponse has been sentto eac your interestin this matter.THE SECRETARYOF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable John Carter U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Carter: Aprll19, 2012

Thank you for your letter, oosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofSouthwestAirlines fur two beyond-perimeter slot exemptions atRonald Reagan Washington National Airport (OCA).**Southwest~s** applicationproposes to serve Austin-Bergstrom International Airport with one round trip per day from DCA. Under authoritY .grantedin the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slot exemptions atDCA, which would support four daily round trips

.. We received Southwest's application on March 12. Other timely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing oneround trip to Vancouver, BritishColuntbia; AlaskaAirlines, one round trip to**Portlan~** Oregon, and one round trip to San Diego; Frontier Airlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBiue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico., and oneround trip to Austin, TeXt,U;; Sun Country Airlines,. one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips to San Francisco. As the matter is still pending. 

## t cannot comment on the n1erits ofthe points raised in your letter.**However~** I can assure you that all applications the Departmentreceived will be given full and fair considerationand will be evaluated againstthe selection criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action on this matter is being administered through a public docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in d.ocket number DOT-2012

..0029. AsimilarreSPonse has been s signer ofyour letter. I appr · matter.THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASH1NGTON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable Michael McCaul U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman McCaul: April19, 2012

Thankyou for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application .ofSouthwest Airlines fur two beyond-perimeter slot exemptions atRonald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Sottthweses application proposes to serve Austin-Bergstrom International Airport with oneround trip perday from DCA. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant orlimited incumbent carriers a total ofeight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips. We received Southweses application on March 12. Othet· timely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one mund 

### trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; AlaskaAirlines, one round trip to Portland, Oregon* and one .round-trip to San Diego; Frontier Airlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Sun Country Airlines, one round 

### trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin America. Inc., two round trips to San Francisco, As the matter is stillpending, Jcannot commentonthe merits ofthe points raised in your letter.**However~** I can assure you that all applications the Departmentreceived will be given 

### full and fair consideration and will beevaluated against the selection criteria specified in the statute
.. TheDepartment's action on this matter isbeing administered thtough.a public docket, whieh allows aU interested parties the opportunity mment Following our normal practice, I am placing acopy ofyour letter and this re docketnumber DOT-2012·0029. Asimilarresponse has been 

### sen your interest

### in this matter.

Ray LaHood

## Qtnngrens nf**tlp~** 

## 1flniteil**~bdeE** 

### musl,iugton, 1ll(!t 20515

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey A venue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary LaHood: March 20, 2012

We are writing in support ofSouthwest Airlines' application for beyond-perimeter slot exemptions between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Austin- Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). With these beyond-perimeter slot exemptions, Southwest proposes to operate the first-ever "capital-to-capital" nonstop flight between Austin and DCA. Southwest has operated at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport since 1977. However. despite significant demand, the airport currently lacks nonstop service to DCA. As a result, current travel options between Austin and DCA require stopovers and are relatively expensive. Southwest's proposal would provide much-needed service to passengers flying between the two capitals. Using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Southwest will likely be able to offer lower fares for Washingt<;>n, DC and Austin-area passengers while maximizing the use ofscarce beyondperimeter slot exemptions and providing much-neededjob opportunities. We hope that Southwest's application will receive every fair and proper consideration. Thank you for your attention on this subject. Sincerely, 

# 4--·**~·-·** Lamar Smith Member ofCongress

# :11AtLwt~d

Michael McCaul Member ofCongress



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