0 

u.s. Oepartment o.f 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

Of Transportation 

Mr. Fred S. Mo~gan 

President and CEO 

The State Chamber ef Oklahema 

330 N.E. t 01h Street 

Oklahoma City, OK 73104-3110 

Dear Mr. Morgan: 

March 29 • 2012 

120CI New Jersey AVe., S.E; 

Washil'lgton, OC 20590 

l 

co 

Thank you for your letter of M~ch S to Secret~u:y Ray LaHood, ~!lpporting the ~ppticatio.n of 

Southwest Airlines (Southwest) for two within ... perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan 

WaShington National Airport (DCA). These two slot exemptions are available for reallocation 

under49 U.S.C. § 41718(b) ps a result of the return oftwo such exemptions that ha.d earlier been 

granted for service to Jackson, MS. Secretary LaHood asked that I respond to your Jetter on his 

behalf. 

Southwest's application, which the Department received on March 5, proposes to serve 

Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City fro.m DCA with onr: ro.und ... trip per day. Other timely 

applications for the exemptions were received from Frontier Airlines, prop.osing servke to 

Louisville, KY, and US Airways. proposing to continue the serVice to Jackson. 

As the matter is still pending, I hope you understand that we cannot comment on the merits of 

the points raised in your letter. However, I can assure you that all applications the Departmen:t 

receives will be given full and fair cm1siderndotl and will be evaluated against the selection 

criteria specified by statute. 

The Department's action on this matter is bein~admtnisterf!d throUgh a public docket, which 

allows &tl.interested parties the opportunity h> comment. Following our normal practice., l am 

placing a copy of your ltmer and this response In docket DOT -2000., 718.2. 

I appreciate yol.lr in.terest i.n this matter. 

Sincerely yours, 

~·~ Robert Letteney 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and lnternadonaJ Affairs 
March 8, 2012 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Docket OST -2000-7182 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

Fred S. Morgan 

President and CEO 

On behalf of The State Chamber of Oklahoma, I write in strong support of Southwest 

Airlines' (Southwest's) application for daily nonstop service between Ronald Reagan 

NatiorialAirport{DCA) and-Will Rogers.A:irpmt in Oldahoma C_ity (OKC)~ Southwest 

proi)6ses toin~tiate the'dnly-nonstop serVice between Oklal,lomff, and DCA . .S1:1ch direct 

aceess to the N~rtion~s Ciipital.'livould be exceptionally beneficial. to .the business, . · 

community of Greater Oklahoma City. Considering the size and strength of Oklahoma 

City~s business community, we believe nonstop service to DCA is fully justified, if not •. ! ~ . :"'I •· • 

overaue. · · · · · . ·· · · ·· · ·' ·· . ' .... · .. 

Greater Oklahoma City is growing rapidly.· Led by its vibrant energ-j-r·elatcd industries 

as well as the defense and aerospace s~tors, Oldahoma City is one of the fast growing 

communities in the United States. Combined with the Federal Aviation 

Adrninistration's Mike Moi1rbneY'Aercnautics Center and the U.S. military's Tinker Air 

Force Base, Oklahomans have considerable business before the federal government, 

which drives demand for more direct, convenient and frequent air service to 

Washington, D.C. 

Today; with no nonstop servlceto DCA, tens of'~housand~_of.OKG travelers fly annually 

to DCA on connecting itinetaries.· In fa(:t. OKC isth~largest origin and destination 

marketloCa:ted within DCA's 1,250-mile perimeter without nonstop service. Moreover, 

average ticket prices on· these connec:ting itineraries·in the DCA-OKC merket are 

relatively expensive. We are confident that nonstop service from a low-fare leader like 

Southwest will produce significant fare savings, in addition to more convenient access to 

DCA.· .. ·.-:·· . ;· -~' 

.· . •• '! 

.. . ~. ' : . . ... ,. ~~. ~ 

· In.'$Uiinnacy, given Greater Oklahoma City's .strong o.rigin and de~tination pasdenger 

·base, ;com:bined With Southwest's vastdo.mestic- network; Southwest's applipation, for 

. o~c.:. DCA service is a sure winner for consumers and ·is .undoubtedly in the U.S. public's --int . t . . . . .. , . , .. -~w--'-------.:.. _ ___;·:.;.;_·. _ ____;·:..___--:..:_. _:.__----:.....,. :..:--·' ---· ~.......:·____:·"'--. ____:..·:.._· _:· __ 

"330 N.E. lOth Street o Oklahorno City, OK 7310Li·3220 

35·3669 o FAX !405) :2:35-3670 · E·rnaif: fmorgdn@oblatechamber.com 

1Neb sitr.": "Nvvw.ok.~,tokx.hombes.o;,rn 

Firs! Accredited State Chamber in the Nation 
The Honorable Ray LaHood 

March 8, 2012 

Page2 

Therefore, we respectfully request the Department of Transportation to award the two 

slot exemptions at issue in this proceeding to Southwest Airlines so that it can begin 

daily scheduled service between OKC and DCA. Thank you in advance for your 

consideration of this request. 

Sincerely, 

·~~/Y?~; - FredS. Morgan 

FSM:GRC:rm