o 

U.S. Oepartmen f Assfstant Secretary izoa Heyt Jvmvy AVBAM. SB 

Of Transportation •; w»hii>dton, DC 20590 

Office of the Secretary '" 

of Transportation ^' 

MAR 1 0 2010 

Mr. Al Denson c ^ 

President/CEO ^ 

Birmingham Airport Authority . ' ^ 

5900 Airport Highway ^. 

");".r3 

Birmingham, AL 35212 

1 3 ^•' ^ 

Dear Mr. Denson: ^'' =! 

Thank you for your letter supporting a proposed transaction between US Airways and Delta Air 

Lines, by which Delta would exchange certain slot interests at Ronald Reagan Washington 

National Airport (DCA) for certain US Airways slot interests at LaGuardia Airport (LGA). 

On February 9, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a tentative determination 

approving the proposed transaction, but subject to certain conditions. It tentatively found that the 

public interest would best be served if the potential hann created by the increased concentration 

at the airports were counterbalanced by affording new opportunities for competition by new 

entrant and limited incumbent carriers. Specifically, the tentative finding would require 

divestiture of 14 pairs of slot interests at DCA, and 20 pairs of slot interests at LGA. to such 

carriers. 

The proposed determination was published in the Federal Register on February 18 (75 Fed. Reg, 

7306), with a closing date for comments from interested persons of March 22,2010. After 

receipt and review of the comments, we will take such further action as appropriate. 

A copy of your letter has been placed in the docket for the proceeding, FAA 2010-0109. That 

docket also contains a copy of the tentative determination and other relevant documents, should 

you wish to follow developments in the matter. It is accessible through the Federal 

Government's regulations website, httD://www.regulations.gov. 

If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel free to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary 

for Aviation and International Affairs 
BIRMINGHAM AIRPORTAumoRHY 

September 10,2009 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

Recently US Airways and Delta announced an agreement to exchange slots at both 

Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and LaGuardia (LGA). I write to express 

my strong support for this slot transaction as it provides benefits of importance to my city 

and indeed my state. 

US Airways has announced that upon consummation of this agreement and in accepting 

42 slots from Delta at DCA, they will provide Birmingham, Alabama with nonstop 

service to Reagan Washington National Airport. We have long sought such service as 

the benefits to our nation's capital will provide needed business access to govemmcnt 

entifies v^ch will allow us to grow and prosper. 

In addition, because US Airways has a well established network system at DCA, our 

customers will have the ability to easily connect with maj<M* cities, particularly throughout 

the East Such access is vital to our economic health and we applaud tiiis innovative and 

important use of the slots at E>CA. 

Obviously, for us to achieve this service the plan must be adopted as a single entity and I 

ui:ge your input in encouraging the government to endorse this excellent agreement 

Thank you for your consideration of this exciting and very consumer-oriented 

arrangement. 

Sincerely, 

AlDensbn, 

President/CEO 

cc: Honorable Randolph Babbitt 

Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20591 

5000 Airport Highway Bimingham, Alabama 35212 (205) 595-0533 FAX(20St 599-0538