Q 

U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

;v/RTMENTOF 

i --'M^PORWION 

;;.:,::i OPERATIONS 

Assistant Secretary 

b A 10^ 0 1 

sio-l 

1200 Naw Jeraey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20S9D 

September 12, 2011 

Mr. Alexandre Chemla 

Ms. Lisa Wheeler 

ALTOUR 

1270 Avenue of the Americas 

Fifteenth Floor 

New York, NY 10020 

Dear Mr. Chemla and Ms. Wheeler: 

Thank you for your letters, expressing support for a proposed agreement by which Delta Air 

Lines would exchange certaiaslot interests at Reagan Washington National Airport for certain 

US Airways slot interests at LaGuardia Airport. Secretary LaHood has asked that I respond on 

his behalf. 

Among o&er points, you urge that the Department allow the proposed transaction to proceed, 

believing that a Delta hub at LaGuardia would resuh in service to new destinations, more 

frequent flights, additional connections, and increases in service quality. You also support a 

divestiture of slots to low cost carriers as part of the transaction, providing an additional 

assurance that competition will remain vibrant in New York. 

The Department's action on this matter is being administered through a public docket, which will 

allow all interested parties the opportunity to comment. We will evaluate all of the comments 

that are filed, and then take appropriate action. Following our normal practice, I am placing a 

copy of your letter and this response in the docket. For your reference, the docket number is 

FAA 2010-0109. As the matter is still pendmg, I hope you understand that neither the Secretary 

nor I can comment on the merits of the pomts raised in your letter. 

We appreciate your interest m this proceeding. 

Sincerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
August 29,2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Ti^nsportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: FAA-2010-0109 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

On behalf of ALTOUR, I am writing in support of the proposed slot transaction between 

Delta and US Airways and the FAA's decision to grant the proposed waiver relating to 

the transaction with conditions. 

One of my responsibilities is to manage the corporate tiavel for ALTOUR. I believe the 

changes that would occui" as a result of the transaction in New York would benefit 

ALTOUR and its travelers. Based on my understanding of the transaction. Delta plans to 

create a hub at LaGuardia. This should result in service to new destinations, more 

fi:equent service to existing destinations, additional connections, and increases in service 

quality. I also understand that Delta is replacing US Airways' turboprop service with all 

jet service. This will not only improve the quality of service but I understand should also 

result in a reduction in congestion. 

I understand that US Airways will be exiting some routes out of LaGuardia as a resxUt of 

transferring slots to Delta. Given the new service that will be provided by Delta and 

existing service options at Newark and JFK, however, I am not concerned about any loss 

of competition or that the transaction will allow Deha to raise fai-es. In addition, I 

understand that the transaction will result in the divestiture of slots to low cost carriers. 

This should provide an additional assurance that competition will remain vibrant in New 

York. 

Similarly, I understand Delta plans to scale down some its operations at WashingtonReagan. However, the combination of US Akways' expanded Washington service, 

Delta's contmued opei'ation of nonstop sei"vice between DCA and its hubs and the DCALaGuardia Shuttle, existing sei-vice options at Washington-Dulles and BWI, and 

increased LCC competition made possible by the divested slots, resolves any concern we 

might othenvise have about loss of service in Washington. 
SI 0-1 l()^)()h-()2S 

I Recipient Niiiviej 

August ;!V, 2011 

('aye 2 

I urge the FAA to issue a final order consistent witli its decision to grant the proposed 

waiver relating to the transaction with conditions and allow the ti-ansaction to proceed 

quickly. 

Sincerely, 

President 

ALTOUR 

cc: Delta Air Lines, hic. 
August 29,2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Tmnsportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: FAA-2010-0109 

Dear Secretary LaHood; 

On behalf of ALTOUR, I am writing in support of the proposed slot tansaction between 

Delta and US Airways and the FAA's decision to grant the proposed waiver relating to 

the transaction with conditions. 

One of my responsibilities is to manage the corporate travel for ALTOUR. I believe the 

changes that would occur as a result of the transaction in New York would benefit 

ALTOUR and its travelers. Based on my understanding of the transaction. Delta plans to 

create a hub at LaGuardia. This shoiild result in service to new destinations, more 

frequerit servicis to existing destinations, additional connections, and increases in service 

quality. I also imderstand that Delta is replacing US Airways' turboprop service with all 

jet service. This will not only unprove the quality of service but I understand should also 

result in a reduction m congestion. 

I understand that US Airways will be exiting some routes out of LaGuardia as a result of 

transferring slots to Delta. Given the new service that will be provided by Delta and 

existing service options at Newaik and JFK, however, I am not concerned about any loss 

of competition or that the transaction will allow Delta to raise fares. In addition, I 

understand that the transaction will result in the divestiture of slots to low cost carriers. 

This should provide an additional assmance that competition will remam vibrant in New 

York. 

Similarly, I understand Delta plans to scale down some its operations at WashingtonReagan. However, the combination of US Airways' expanded Washington service. 

Delta's continued operation of nonstop service between DCA and its hubs mid tlte DCALaGuardia Shuttle, existing service options at Washington-Dulles and BWI, and 

increased LCC competition made possible by the divested slots, resolves any concern we 

might othenvise have about loss of service in Washington. 
[Rccipiciii NiJiViej 

Auyiist 29. 201! 

Page 2 

1 urge the FAA to issue a final order consistent with its decision to grant the proposed 

waiver relating to tlie Uansaction with conditions and allow the ti-ansaction to proceed 

quickly. 

S^cerely, 

Lisa Wheeler 

SVP Operations Eastern Region 

ALTOUR 

cc: Delta Air Lines, Inc.