THE SECRETARYOFTRANSPORTATION,. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 I 

The Honorable Bill Posey 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Posey: 

April16, 2012 

,I /'i , " "· [) '· I ·: t. 

Thank you for your letter supporting the application of JetBiue Airways for beyond-perimeter 

slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). JetBlue~s application 

proposes to serve Luis Munoz Marin Airport, Puerto Rico, with o.tie round trip per day from 

DCA. 

Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 20 I 2, the 

U.S. Department ofTransportatiotl will be awarding to new entrant or lb:nited incumbent 

carriers a total of eight slot exemptions at DCA, which would· support four daily round trips. 

We received JetBlue's application, which also proposes one daily round trip to Austin~ Texas, on 

March 12. Other timely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip 

to Vancouver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one round trip to Portland, Oregon. and one 

round trip to San Diego; Frontier Airlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San 

Diego; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin and San Diego beyond; Sun Country 

Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips to San 

Francisco, 

As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits of the points raised in your letter. 

However, I can assure you that all app.lications the Department received will be given full and 

fair consideration and will be eval.uated against the selection criteria specified in the statute. 

The Department's action on this matter is bei 

allows all interested parties the opportunity 

placing a copy of your letter and this 

I appreciate your interest in this 

hlistered through a public docket, which 

ment. Following our normal practice, I.am 

docket number DOT•2012~0029. 
!Via r. L 1. L iJ I L L: 4 L r'!VI 

-.. BILL POSEY 

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The Honomble Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transp011ation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

March 21, 2012 

RE: JetBlue Airways DCA-SJU Application, Docket DOT-OST-2012-0029 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

No. 0383 P. 1 ... 1 

WA.SHINCTON OFfiCE: 

120 CANNOII HOu!IE OfFICII 9U!'O'"cl 

WM"INQYON, oc 20515 

(2021 22$.-3\171 

FAX! (202122W616 

l>lSTRICT OFFICII: 

2726 JUOG! Ftwl JAMIESON W/'.lf, BLDQ. c 

MEL80UIINI, Fl. 32940 

(3211632-1178 

fAA; 1)211 6311-8595 

I am writing to share my supp011 of the application by JetBlue Airways to provide new service to 

San Juan, Puetto Rico under the recently authol'ized exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington 

National Airport. The addition of daily non~stop service from Reagan National Airport will 

enhance competition and consumer options in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and in 

. Pue11o Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Direct service between these two capital cities will strengthen business ties, enhance economic 

growth and facilitate government-toMgovemment pontacts between the two cities. In addition. 

tourists visiting Puerto Rico would benefit by the convenient and cost"effective coMections 

between the mainland and the island. Moreover. the U.S. Virgin Island will also benefit fi:om 

this additional service to and from Washington. Through JetBlue's codeshare agreement with 

Cape Air, passengers will connect seamlessly to the city ofMayague.z and the Island ofVieques 

from San Juan. 

. . 

JetBlue is a low fare airJine serving Puerto Rico and one of San Juan's largest carriers. JetBlue 

currently serves San Juan with nonstop flights fi:om JFK, Boston_, Fo11 Lauderdale, Orlando, 

Tampa) Jacksonville, Santo Domingo and St. Maarten. JetBlue's strong presence in the region 

ensures it will be able to sustainably operate this new route and offer passengers a broader range 

of choices. 

I respectfully urge you to give serious consideration of the DCA-SJU route application from 

JetBlue. 

Sin#fl 

1Posey Member of Congress 

PRIN'f£'0 ON RECYClEO PAPfR