Q 

USbDapOrtllMntof Assistant Sttcretory 1200 New Jerie/AvenM.SE 

nCBMPOrtaHon /,,;' : ^ j ; y^flngton, OC 20590 

OffloeofmeSecraiary 

cKlhsnsportatlon 

NOV 1 2 2010 

The Honorable Victor W. Loomis, Jr. 

Mayor of East Lansing 

410 Abbot Road 

East Lansing, MI 48823 

Dear Mayor Loomis: 

Thank you for your letter of October 22 to Secretary LaHood supporting Sun CounUy 

Airlines to serve Lansing. Michigan, in the ongoing slot-exemption proceeding at Ronald 

Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The Secretary has asked that I respond to 

you directly. 

As you know, the U.S. Department of Transportation commenced a proceeding on 

August 30 to reallocate two DCA slot exemptions that are currently held by Republic 

Airline. Inc. (Republic) as a result of its acquisition of Midwest Airlines. Republic has 

been using these two slot exemptions for DCA - Kansas City service. These slot 

exemptions may be used to serve any medium hub or smaller airport within the 1,250-

mile perimeter of DCA. 

We have received a total of five proposals, briefly outlined below: 

• Sun Country to serve Lansing continuing onto Minneapolis/St. Paul with 129- or 

162-seat aircraft; 

• Republic, branded as Frontier Airlines, to continue to serve Kansas City, 

Missouri, with 99-seat regional jet aircraft; 

• Southwest Airlines Co., to serve Kansas City utilizing 137-seat aircraft; 

• US Airways, Inc., to serve Pensacola. Florida, utilizing 76- or 86-seat regional jet 

aurcraft, depending on the season; and 

• Air Tran Airways, Inc., to serve either Fort Myers or Sarasota, Florida, utilizing 

cither 117- or 137-seat aircraft. 

As the slot exemption proceeding is competitive and is currently under review by the 

Department, I am sure you understand that [ cannot comment on the merits of the 

proposals. I assure you, however, that the Department will fully consider all of the 

proposals, and make its award based on the selection criteria detailed in the governing 

statutes. 
The Honorable Viclor W. Loomis, Jr. 

Page 2 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2000-7182 as a contact outside the record of this proceeding. 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 
C\T\ Ol JA s x L. V JNS1 j \ (; 

The Home of Michigan Siatc University 

October 22, 2010 

The Honorable Raymond L, LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re; Sun Country Airlines Application - DOT-OST-20000-7182 

Dear Seerciary LaHood; 

On behalf of the City of East Lansing and the Mid-Michigan Region, I am writing in support 

of Sun Country's proposal to add two, non-stop flights per day to Washington, D.C. from 

Lansing. The complete routing would include Minneapolis - Lansing - Washington, D.C. and 

return. In addition to the benefit of t^vo direct flights to D.C. this would allow for two more 

niglUs to Minneapolis which is uKso a desirable destination for our region. 

This proposal would require landing slots at Washington's National Airjiort (DCA) and i 

respectfully urge that these be approved by your department. Our region previously liad 

access to this vital service however, it ceased to exist in 2005 with the departure of 

Independent Air. 

This is a very important prospect for Mid-Micliigan. As the Stale Capital, Lansing is home to 

many successful businesses, all three branches of state government, along with many nonprofit and interest groups that would be well-served by the opportunity for direct travel to 

Washington, D.C. East Lansing hosts Michigan Stale University which is a world-chiss 

institution renowned for its inicmalional outreach and this .service would enhance its global 

appeal. 

There is no douht that if Sun Country's proposal was to be approved. Mid-Michigan would 

realise numerous direct economic and cultural benefits. 1 truly hope lliat you and your 

department will help make this a reality. If you have any questions regarding tliis letter, please 

feel free to contact me directly at 517-8iJ 1 -0395. 

Sincerely, 

^ctor W. Loomis, Jr. 

Mayor 

Cc: Robert F. Selig, AAE Executive Director