February 16, 2012 

KathyThelen -:'^J:i}l:j^H[0?^ 

3000 Westwood Ave. ^:'i^'^i\^'^^;j}j,. 

Lansing, Ml 48906 - ^-'^^^ 'Ai U-o 

Docket Management Facility ••':n '•rn 79 o 9 :> 1 

U.S. Dept of Transportation 

Docket No FAA-20120089 

1200 New Jersey Ave SE 

West Building Grand Floor, Room W-120140 

Washington, DC 20590 

To Whom It May Concern, 

I am writing this letter to request that you allow Sun Country Airlines to keep their landing rights at 

Reagan National Airport. As Lansing is the capital city of Michigan it is important that we have a direct 

flight to Washington DC that is easily accessible to the Capital of the United States. If the flight times for 

arrival and departure have to change we can accept that, but not having Sun Country Airlines would be a 

hardship to those who need to travel from here to there. 

Sun Country Airlines has been a dependable flight where we can count on arriving and departing at the 

projected times. We have had and still have other airlines that have committed to flying from Lansing to 

Washington DC, but they also stop at larger airports before making it to Washington DC. The problem 

with that, particularly the Lansing to Detroit to Washington DC, is that these flights are notoriously 

delayed or cancelled especially at the beginning of the week and this has caused issues for passengers 

that need to be in Washington DC by a particular time for their work. 

Both of the other two airlines available are much more expensive than Sun Country, which is another 

problem when trying to travel economically, whether for business or pleasure. My son lives in 

Washington DC and both for him and our family it is more feasible for us to visit each other with Sun 

Country fares and for him to come home on holidays and special family occasions. 

We have been thrilled with the experiences on Sun Country and are pleading with you to let Sun Country 

Airlines continue using landing rights at Reagan Airport. Dulles Airport is too far out to be convenient and 

when unfamiliar with the area it makes it much more difficult in arriving at specific destinations in DC plus 

the strain of additional costs. 

According to available statistics in The Lansing State Journal, our local paper. Sun Country has 

increased 156% in daily passengers in the third quarter of 2011 over a year ago before Sun Country 

began offerir^ flights from Lansing to DC. Prices on average have dropped by 26% during that same 

time. More than 48,000 passengers have flown this route since it started offering flights last April, 2011. 

Lansing is also a layover for passengers flying from Minneapolis into our nation's capital. As quoted on 

the Reagan National Airport website the purpose of this airport is "primarily serving as a "short-haul" 

airport. Reagan National offers nonstop service to destinations no further than a 1,250 mile perimeter 

from Washington, D.C. as part of the federally-instituted "Perimeter Rule". Lansing is approximately 590 

miles away from Washington DC and fits the criteria stated above. 

In summarizing, I am asking you to please allow Sun Country Airiines to continue with landing rights at 

Reagan National Airport based on the convenience, reliability and economic factors they offer. Lansing, 

Michigan is taking advantage of the flights offered by Sun Country Airiine and as word spreads the 

increase of passengers continues. We can accept that the schedule times may have to change, but 

please do not take away this wonderful means of transportation with Sun Country to our nation's capital. 

Z^t^ni)^ Sincerely 

Kathy Thelen