BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C.

____________________________________________ ) Supplements to Comments of ) ) CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS ) Docket No. OST-2012-0029 ) in support of Applications of Southwest Airlines, ) Inc., and JetBlue Airways, Inc. for an exemption ) pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 41718 (g) (2) to provide ) new nonstop service between Ronald Reagan ) Washington National Airport and ) Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ) ___________________________________________ )

SUPPLEMENTS TO COMMENTS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATIONS OF SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, INC. AND JETBLUE AIRWAYS, INC.

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

Jim Smith Executive Director Jim.Smith@austintexas.gov

Jamy Kazanoff Assistant Director Jamy.Kazanoff@austintexas.gov

March 27, 2012SUPPLEMENTS TO COMMENTS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATIONS OF SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, INC. AND JETBLUE AIRWAYS, INC.

I. Introduction

The City of Austin, as the owner-operator of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

(“AUS”), respectfully submits the following co mments and letters from in support of the

Applications of Southwest Airl ines (“Southwest”) and JetBlu e Airways (“JetBlue”) for an

exemption from subparts K and S of 14 C.F.R. Part 93.

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 41718(g) (2), as en acted by the FAA Modernization and Reform

Act of 2012 (FAA 2012), and the Department of Tr ansportation’s (“Department”) February 24,

2012 Order, the City of Austin, as the owner-operator of Austin-B ergstrom International Airport

(“ABIA”), on behalf of the 16 elected leaders, their more than 2.0 million constituents, twentyone Austin area Business and Economic Development groups, two major Universities, the Austin

CVB and Texas Department of Transportation, four National associations based in Austin and

the AFSCME, Local 1624, these lette rs in support of Southwest Ai rlines, Inc. ("Southwest”) and

JetBlue Airways, Inc. (“JetBlue”), for an exemp tion from subparts K and S of 14 C.F.R. Part 93,

to permit Southwest and JetBlu e to operate daily roundtrip fl ights between Ronald Reagan

Washington National Airport (“DCA”) and Austin-B ergstrom International Airport (“ABIA” and

“AUS”).

II. Representations

Each of the following lette rs outline the importance of nonstop air service from

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Rona ld Reagan Washington National Airport for theirrespective constituents, economic and business de velopment, academic enrichment, tourism and

quality of life.

These letters are in addition to those subm itted by The Honorable Rick Perry, Governor

of Texas, as well as The Honorable Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn and U.S.

Representative Lloyd Doggett. Numerous private individuals have and may continue to submit

comments directly to the Department. The follo wing letters of support include and are submitted

on behalf of:

United States Federal Legislative Contingent Congressman John R. Carter Congressmen John R. Carter, Lamar Smith, Michael McCaul

Texas Legislative Contingent Dawnna Dukes Donna Howard Eddie Rodriguez Elliott Naishtat Esperanza "Hope" Andrade Jeff Wentworth Kirk Watson Mark Strama Stephen E. Ogden

Central Texas Mayors City of Austin, Mayor Lee Leffingwell City of Bastrop, Mayor Terry Orr City of Georgetown, Mayor George Garver City of San Marcos, Mayor Daniel Guerrero

Austin Area Businesses/Economic Development Groups Austin Board of Realtors Brookfield Residential Campus2Careers Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce Convio Dell, Inc. Emerson Process ManagementETS - Lindgren Focus Embedded Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce's Air Service Task Force Harden Healthcare Heldenfels Enterprises
IBM Livestrong Lockhart Economic Deve lopment Corporation Lockhart Industrial Foundation Nomadesk's Seton Healthcare Family Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Texas Association of Realtors

Universities The University of Texas System Texas State University

Tourism Austin Convention & Visitor's Bureau Texas Department of Transportation

Conventions / Associations American Association of Physicists in Medicine American Society of Plant Biologists National League of Cities Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society

Unions AFSCME, Local 1624

III. Letters

# CDawnna CDuk§s
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

P.O. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78768-2910 (512) 463-0506 District 46 Travis County

March 19,2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary LaHood:

As a State Representative representing Austin and Northeast Travis County, I wholeheartedly support nonstop service between the Nation's capital from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to the Texas capital at Austin-Bergstrom 

### International Airport (AUS). Austin is the 14th largest

- 

### and the third fastest-growingcity in the United States with an MSA population of 1.8 million. This is a thirty-seven percent increase since 2000. Moreover, this population is projected to reach 2 million in just three years. AUS has grown right along with the city.

Clean, safe, reliable nonstop air transportation is vital to Austin's continued growth. Austin has been ranked as "America's No.1 Boom Town" by Forbes magazine. It has been named as one of the "Top 10 American Cities of the Future" by tDi Intelligence. Austin's unique blend of easy-going vibe and energetic capitalism has attracted residents and visitors from across the country and around the world. While the SXSW and ACL musical festivals and other entertainment events draw an ever-increasing number of leisure visitors, the SXSW Interactive Conference and leading research institutions examine pressing issues of technology and public policy that also attract and retain leading figures in business and academia.

Consistent contributions to America's cultural, political, and intellectual life by Austin have helped many. Your award of the necessary slots for nonstop AUS-DCA service will

ensure these contributions continue. Thank you for your consideration of Austin during this process. Please contact me if I may provide any further assistance to you during this process.
Sincerely,

D~Dukes
State Representative, District 46

Committees: Appropriations; Appropriations Su6-committee on J{ea{tfi and J{uman Services-Vice Cfiair Appropriations Su6-committee on Stimu{us; CuCture, ~creation and TourismTuesday, March 20, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing to express campus2careers.com’ s whole hearted support for the efforts to secure nonstop service from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airpor t (DCA). DCA-AUS service is an important route for our booming area, both for Austin and the entire Central Texas region.

Austin is the only city/airport with two carriers seeking to pr ovide nonstop service. Awarding slots for DCA-AUS will increase capacity, reduce fa res, and greatly improve service options for our employees and visitors alike. Linking these tw o capitals saves valuable time too, at least two hours of travel time in each direction.

campus2careers is headquartered in Austin but will be making regular trips to the Washington DC area due to work we have planned with St artup America, the VA, and the Department of Labor. A direct flight to DCA would make these opportunities even more exciting for us.

Importantly, Austin leads the nation’s largest me tropolitan areas in job growth. We are the 14 th largest city in the nation and the third fastes t growing. By 2015, our Austin metropolitan area is expected to reach two million. Grow ing communities support air service.

I look forward to the DCA-AUS approva ls. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Nathan Green, President of campus2careersThe Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590

March 20, 2012

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing on behalf of Dell, Inc. to express our unified support for the efforts to secure nonstop service from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). DCA-AUS service is an impor tant route for our booming area, both for Austin and the entire Central Texas region.
Dell is a global technology services and solutions company headquartered in the Central Texas region for more than 27 years. Dell is proud to employ more than 14,000 individuals in the Austin area and over 100,000 individuals worldwide.
As you probably know, Dell has a long and successful history of serving our government customers in both the civilian and defense agencies. As an IT services or ganization, we collaborate directly with our customers to build technology solutions that serve both short and long-term needs. Given the large number of customers in the Washington, DC area, we view non-stop service to DCA as a critical enabler for future growth and business development.
I was pleased to see that Austin was the only city/airport with two carrier s seeking to provide nonstop service. Awarding slots for DCA-AUS will increase capacity, redu ce fares, and greatly improve service options for our employees and visitors alike. It will also save va luable travel time and increase productivity, eliminating at least two hours of transit time in each direction.
Dell is proud to have its headquarters located in the Ce ntral Texas region. We live in a vibrant, growing region that needs more air service options. Important ly, Austin leads the nation’s largest metropolitan areas in job growth. We are the 14 th largest city in the nation and the third fastest growing. By 2015, our Austin metropolitan area is expected to reach two million. Growing communities support air service.
I believe the economics and growth potential for Austin strongly support the award of a slot exemption to allow non-stop air service between DCA-AUS. I look forward to your positive approval. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Dane Parker Vice President, Global Facilities Dell, Inc.PO Box 270096 Austin, TX 78727

www.focusembedded.com

A Dillotronics Company

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary, US Dept of Transportation Washington, DC

Dear Mr. LaHood: It recently came to my attention that slots have opened up for a non-stop air service route between our home city of Austin, Texas and Washington, D.C., and I’d like to take a moment to thank your organization for considering such a move. Being in the field of high tech, there are a few citie s that stand out as preferred destinations for the members of our organization, and Washington, D.C. tops that list. In particular, the nearness of Reagan National to the Federal Triangle and its easy access to Capital Metro makes it an extremely attractive alternative to BWI and IAD. The particular problem for business travel (and the r eason non-stop service to the nation’s capital is so important) is that much of the business we’d like to transact is work we could do in a day trip – were it not for the fact that without non-stop service, with time zones working against us, by the time a traveler from Austin has made connecting flights through Houston or Dallas, on arrival in the DC area, half a working day is already lost. Thus, a non-stop is something we’d fly regularly. A route with even one layover gives us another reason to stay home. And that’s not good for business in either city. We’re extremely fortunate that our local airport, Aus tin-Bergstrom is extremely well prepared to take the extra traffic, and they’ve shown that over the last few years, as other markets have declined in passenger traffic and Austin’s has grown, they’re quite capable of expanding service. With a nation at large in need of employment growth, Austin is a city that was last into and first out of the current recession and has led the country in new job creation. What’s driven th is has consistently been high-tech. And since we have a federal government that recognizes that we need to lead the world in brainpower if we’re to be economically competitive globally, the connection between the two cities is that much more critical. I therefore respectfully urge you to see to it that the connection between Austin and DC is served with the addition of a slot (or slots, plural) for non- stop service between the two capital cities.

Best regards, Eric D. Overton CEO, Focus EmbeddedAbercorn International

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Angelou Economics
Austin Bergstrom International Airport

Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau

Bazaarvoice

Circuit of the Americas
City of Austin- Economic Development

Coldwell Banker United Realtors

Dell, Inc.

Dillotronics

Emerson Process Management

Freescale Semiconductor

Freese & Nichols
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

Gemalto
Homeaway

Jackson Walker L.L.P.

Monaco Star Events

National Instruments

Oxford Commercial
PayPal

Round Rock Chamber of Commerce

St. Edwards
Stanberry and Associates
Temple-Inland

Texas State
Tokyo Electron U.S. Holdings, Inc.
University of Texas at Austin - University Extension

Winstead PC Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing on behalf of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce’s Air Service Task Force to express our unified support for the efforts to secure n onstop service from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). DCA-AU S service is an important route for our booming area, both for Austin and th e entire Central Texas region.

Our task force membership and business co mmunity have demonstrated strong support and need for “Capital to Capital” service. The fact that Austin was the only city/airport with two carriers seeking to provide nonstop service further validates that the airlines also see the need and understand the ec onomics. Awarding slots for DCA-AUS will increase capacity, reduce fares, and greatly improve service options for our employees and visitors alike.

Austin has important commercial and govern mental links with Washington, D.C. Twenty-nine Austin companies are headquartered in the D.C. area and/or have reciprocal operations in Austin. Additionally, our high tech industry provides IT services to a variety of federal agencies. Net, we have strong and deep connections between business and government that will c ontinue to foster demand for air service.

Austin is the 14 th largest city in the nation and th e third fastest growing. By 2015, our Austin metropolitan area is expected to reach two million. Austin has led job growth in the U.S. over the last five years, and we continue to outpace the nation in new job creation. Growing communitie s support air service.

I believe the economics and growth potential for Austin strongly support the award of a slot exemption to allow non-stop air servic e between DCA-AUS. I look forward to your positive approval. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Doug Driskill Chair, Air Service Task ForceNomadesk NV • Xavier De Cocklaan 66

- 5 • 9830 Sint

- Martens

- Latem, Belgium • Tel +32 9 233 68 86 Nomadesk INC • 7000 N Mopac • Suite 390, Austin Texas 78731 • Tel 512 3449019 1 Secure Business Class File Sharing

7000 N Mopac, Suite 390 Austin, Texas 78731
Phone: 512.344.9019 x 204
E

- Mail: melanie.bartlett@nomadesk .com Web: www.nomadesk.com

March 21, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary :

I am writing to express Nomadesk’s whole

- hearted support for the efforts to secure nonstop service from Austin

- Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). DCA

- AUS service is an important route for our boomi ng area, both for Austin and the entire Central Texas region.
Austin is the only city/airport with two carriers seeking to provide nonstop service. Awarding slots for DCA

AUS will increase capacity, reduce fares, and greatly improve service options for our employees and visitors alike. Linking these two capitals saves valuable time too, at least two hours of travel time in each direction.
The nonprofit organization with which I am also involved, Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS ), which you Mr. Secretar y have formally announced an alignment with, would also benefit from this nonstop service from AUS to DCA. We are planning on sending several of our new mentor

- protégé groups (which were created to strengthen STEM and Transportation YOU initiatives) to future DC Youth Summits as our program continues to grow. (Thank you for your support o f this as well!)

Im portantly, Austin leads the nation’s largest metropolitan areas in job growth. We are the 14 th largest city in the nation and the third fastest growing. By 2015, our Austin metropolitan area is expected to reach two million. Growing communities support air service.

I look forward to the DCA

- AUS approvals. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,

Melanie Bartlett Director of MarketingTEL 512.531.3900 FAX 512.478.2461 www.spartnerships.com

March 20, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood, Secretary US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing to express Strategic Part nerships, Inc.’s interest in and w hole hearted support for the efforts to secure nonstop service from Austin-Bergstrom International Ai rport (AUS) to Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Because we have an office in Washington D.C., we would definitely be potential passengers. Many of our employees are there on a weekly basis.

Austin is the only city/airport with two carriers seeking to provide nonstop service. Awarding slots for DCA-AUS will increase capacity, reduce fares and gr eatly improve service options for our employees and visitors alike. Linking these tw o capitals saves valuable time, too (a t least two hours of travel time in each direction).

Strategic Partnerships, Inc. is a global company headquartered in Au stin employing 30 individuals in the U.S. While we are definitely a small firm, our clients fly to Austin monthly and our client roster is made up of very large firms such as AT&T, Northr op Grumman, Cisco, Oracle, Pitney Bowes, Johnson Controls, Inc. and Greyhound.

We work for many of our clients in all 50 states so our employees are frequent flyers. We view nonstop service to DCA an important element in our growth plans for the future.

Importantly, Austin is the 14 th largest city in the nation and ranks third in the rate of growth. By 2015, the Austin metropolitan area is e xpected to reach two million.

I look forward to the DCA-AUS approva ls. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mary Scott Nabers President/CEO

Barton Oaks Plaza One, Suite #100 | 901 S. Mopac Expressway | Austin, Texas 78746The Association’s Journals are Medical Physics and Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics Member Society of the American Ins titute of Physics and the Internati onal Organization of Medical Physics American Association of Physicists in Medicine One Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740-3846 (301) 209-3350 Fax (301) 209-0862 http://www.aapm.org

March 19, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I write in support of the applications filed by bot h Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways for exemption slots at Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Wash ington National Airport (DCA), for nonstop capital to capital service to Austin.

Our association has contracted to bring our 56 th AAPM Annual Meeting to Austin over the dates of July 20-24, 2014. Our convention will bring an estimated 4,400 a ttendees to Austin. Many of these attendees will come from the Washington, DC Metro area. Last year, over 8% of our annual meeting attendees traveled from the DC metro area to the meeting. Members of our association are not required to attend; rather driving attendance to the convention is one of our association’s major tasks. Ease of access to Austin will be major criteria when our DC area memb ers determine if they will attend our event. Nonstop service from DCA will have a positi ve impact on our attendance numbers.

Among others, the state-of-the-art Austin Convention Ce nter is a key reason for our selection of the city of Austin to host our annual convention. The Austin Convention Center is a gigabit-rated facility, capable of moving one billion bits of data, voice or video at one billion Bits per second. ACC recently achieved Gold LEED Certification for Existing Building from the US Green Building Council making it the first in Texas and second in the country to do so.

Additionally, Austin’s vibrant entertainment distri cts offering live music at over 200 venues in a very compact, walkable downtown environment will be a draw to our members who are interested in networking with each other after sessions conclude.

I urge you to award the slot exemptions necessary to serve DCA on a nonstop basis from Austin, Texas.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Karen MacFarland, CMP Meetings & Programs ManagerMarch 19, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary: I write in support of the applications file d by both Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways for exemption slots at Washingt on, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), for nonstop capital to capital service to Austin. Our association has contracted to bring our Plant Biology 2012 and 2016 to Austin over the dates of Ju ly 20-24, 2012 and July 9-13, 2016

. Our convention will bring an estimated 3,000 attendees to Austin. Many of these attendees will come from the Washington, DC Metro area. Members of our association are not required to attend; rather driving attend ance to the convention is one of our association’s major tasks. Ease of access to Austin will be major criteria when our DC area members determine if they will attend our event. Non-stop service from DCA will have a positive impact on our attendance numbers. Among others, the state-of-the-art Austin Convention Center is a key reason for our selection of the city of Austin to host our annual convention. The Austin Convention Center is a gigabit-rated fac ility, capable of moving one billion bits of data, voice or video at one billion Bits per second . ACC recently achieved Gold LEED Certification for Existing Build ing from the US Green Building Council making it the first in Texas and second in the country to do so.

Additionally, Austin’s vibrant entertainmen t districts offering live music at over 200 venues in a very compact, walkable downtown environment will be a draw to our members who are interested in networking with each other after sessions
conclude.I urge you to award the slot exemptions necessary to serve DCA on a nonstop basis from Austin, Texas. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jean Rosenberg Director of Meetings American Society of Plant BiologistsMarch 22, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I write in support of the City of Austin’s desire to attain nons top capital to capital service between the City of Austin and Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) from any airline w ho may be applying for exemption slots that currently exist.

The National League of Cities (N LC) has contracted to bring our annual Congress of Cities and Exposition to Austin over the dates of November 18-22, 2014

. Our convention will bring approximately 5,000 attendees to Austin. Some of these attendees and most of NLC’s staff will come from the Washington, DC Metro area. Ease of access to Austin will be major criteria when our DC area members determine if they will attend our event. We believe non-stop service from DCA will have a positive impact on our attendance numbers.

Among others, the state-of-the-art Austin Conve ntion Center (ACC) is a key reason for our selection of the city of Austin to host our a nnual convention. The Austin Convention Center is a gigabit-rated facility, capable of moving one bil lion bits of data, voice or video at one billion Bits per second . ACC recently achieved Gold LEED Certification for Existing Building from the US Green Building Council making it the first in Texas and second in the country to do so.

Additionally, Austin’s vibrant en tertainment districts offering li ve music at over 200 venues in a very compact, walkable downtown environment will be a draw to our members who are interested in networking with each other after sessions conclude.

I urge you to award the slot exemptions necessa ry to serve DCA on a nonstop basis from Austin, Texas. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Janice Pauline Director, Center for Conferen ces, Education and Training National League of Cities