SI 0-100315-0 IS 

& 

II «: nonnrtmon t Assistant Secretary l200New Jersey Avenue, SE 

u.b.ueparTmeni Washington, oc 20590 

of Transportation 

Office of ttie Secretary June 17, 2010 

of Tronsportbtion 

The Honorable Bob Goodiatte 

U. S. House of Representatives 

Washington, D.C. 20515 

Dear Congressman Goodiatte: 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood, co-signed by your congressional colleagues, 

concerning the potential impact of a proposed slot swap between Delta Airlines and US Airways 

on the Roanoke/Southwest Virginia region. I am responding on behalf of the Secretary. 

On May 4, the Department approved an exchange of slots, by which US Airways had originally 

proposed to transfer 42 pairs of daily slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in 

exchange for Delta obtaining 125 slot pairs at LaGuardia Airport. However, to address concerns 

about competition raised by the proposed transaction, the Department required, as a condition of 

the agreement, that the carriers divest 14 pairs of daily slots at Reagan National and 20 pairs at 

LaGuardia, and sell them through a blind sale to airlines that currently have little or no service at 

these airports, with Delta and US Airways retaining the proceeds from the sale. 

The carriers sought and received an extension of time, until July 2, 2010, to notify the 

Department whether they would proceed with the transaction in accordance with the final 

decision. 

The relevant documents in the case can be found on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov/search/Rees/home.html#docketDetail?R=FAA-2010-0109. As is 

our normal practice, 1 am placing a copy of your letter and this response in the Docket. 

An identical letter has been sent to the other cosigners of your letter. 

We appreciate your interest in this proceeding. 

Sincerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
810-100315-018 

e 

U S Departmen t Assistant Secretary 1200 Ne * Jersey Avenue. SE 

of Transportation , , ^„, „ wash^g^n. DO 20590 

June 17, 2010 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Rick Boucher 

U. S. House of Representatives 

Washington, D.C. 20515 

Dear Congressman Boucher: 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, 

concerning the potential impact of a proposed slot swap between Delta Airlines and US Airways 

on the Roanoke/Southwest Virginia region. 1 am responding on behalf of the Secretary. 

On May 4, Ihe Department approved an exchange of slots, by which US Airways had originally 

proposed to transfer 42 pairs of daily slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in 

exchange for Delta obtaining 125 slot pairs at LaGuardia Airport. However, to address concerns 

about competition raised by the proposed transaction, the Department required, as a condition of 

the agreement, that the carriers divest 14 pairs of daily slots at Reagan National and 20 pairs at 

LaGuardia, and sell them through a blind sale to airlines that currently have little or no service at 

these airports, vkith Delta and US Airways retaining the proceeds from the sale. 

The carriers sought and received an extension of time, until July 2, 2010, to notify the 

Department whetlier they would proceed with the transaction in accordzince with the final 

decision. 

The relevant documents in the case can be found on the Internet at 

httD://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#docketDetail?R=FAA-2010-0109. As is 

our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in the Docket. 

An identical letter has been sent to the other cosigners of your letter. 

We appreciate your interest in this proceeding. 

Sincerely yours, 

^UA>UI^AA^^....J!^ 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
SI 0-100315-0 IS 

O 

U S Departmen t Assistant SecreUry i200New Jersey Avenue, SE 

of Transportation «^'''''^'°" °^ =">=" 

Office of the Secretary June 17, 2010 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Tom Perriello 

U. S. House of Representatives 

Washington, D.C. 20515 

Dear Congressman Perriello: 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, 

concerning the potential impact of a proposed slot swap between Delta Airlines and US Airways 

on the Roanoke/Southwest Virginia region. 1 am responding on behalf of the Secretary. 

On May 4, the Department approved an exchange of slots, by which US Airways had originally 

proposed to transfer 42 pairs of daily slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in 

exchange for Delta obtaining 125 slot pairs at LaGuardia Airport. However, to address concerns 

about competition raised by the proposed transaction, the Department required, as a condition of 

the agreement, that the carriers divest 14 pairs of daily slots at Reagan National and 20 pairs at 

LaGuardia, and sell them through a blind sale to airiines that currently have little or no service at 

these airports, with Delta and US Airways retaining the proceeds from the sale. 

The carriers sought and received an extension of time, until July 2, 2010, to notify the 

Department whether they would proceed with the transaction in accordance with the final 

decision. 

The relevant documents in the case can be found on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov/search/Rees/home.html#docketDetail?R=FAA-2010-0109. As is 

our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in the Docket. 

An identical letter has been sent to tlie other cosigners of your letter. 

We appreciate your interest in this proceeding. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kuriand 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
2023667346 0ST\Wa5-121-XEWCP24 09:29:59a.m. 

03/11/201 0 15:46 FAX 

tonfsctHi of tiie Kniteb Atatti 

^ouKe of ^tpvtsimiatiiiti 

QBasidingtQit, l^ t 20515 

March 11,2010 

Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Dq>aitment of Transportation 

400 Seventh Street, S.W. 

Room 10200 

Washington, DC 20590-0001 

Mr. Secrctaiy, 

We write today to express our views on the potential impact of the tnoposed "slot-swqi" 

agreement between Delta and US Airways and its af!ect on the Roanoke/Southwest Viiginia 

region. 

As you know, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently gave tentative 

approval to the "slot- swap" between Delta and US Airways for Ronald Reagan Washington 

National and New York LaGuardia Aiiports. This approval is conditioned upon the airlines 

selling some of their slot interests to U.S. or Canadian carriers with no service or limited service 

at the two aiiports. 

Mr. Secretary, access to the preeminent financial c«aiter in the country has proven vital to 

the emptoyment base of the Roanoke Valley, the busmess conununity and economic 

devekqmient efforts. While this connection is crucial to domestic interests in Southwest Virginia 

and New Yoik, access to New York also provides a vital one-stop connection for millions of 

non-uiban residents and commercial partnen to international markets. 

As you may know, US Airways services Roanoke (ROA) Regional Airport with non-stop 

to New Yoric-LaGuardia (LGA) three-times daily. Roanoke has had service to LGA for nearly 20 

years. However, it is our understanding that if this agreement between die airlines and FAA is 

appmved, in its current form, service fiom Roanoke to New York could be eliminated. As such, 

we are deq>ly concerned fluit eliminating this service could have long lasting economic and 

social ramifications to millions of our constituents in Virginia. Without an effective, coordinated 

transportation system, of which air service is critical, and an available, skilled woikJbrce, our 

region's econoniic development efforts and future growth could be severely weakened. 

manio ON Mcveua r*n* 
2023667346 OSTW85-121-XEWCP24 

0.1/11/2010 15:47 FAA 

09:30:15a.m. 810-100315-018 

Id 003 

Mr. Secretary, as you review the agreement between Delta and US Airways, wc hope that 

you will consider its impact to small and medium sized airports and agree that reducing access to 

business centers is not in the best interest of rejuvenating our economy and fostering an 

innovative economic environment. We urge you to ensure that Roanoke/Southwest Virginia 

retains its access to the number one financial center in the country. 

Sincerely, 

^Jb J^.jejHT W^jJU 

Bob Goodiatte Rick Boucher 

Tom Peniello