U.S. Department ofTransportation Office of the Secretary ofTransportation 

### The Honorable Kirk Watson Texas State Senator P.O. Box 12068 Austin, Texas 78711 DearMr. Watson: Assistant Secretary 

### April 20, 2012 1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE Washington, DC 20590

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### Thankyou for yourletterto Secretary ofTransportation Ray LaHood, supporting the award of beyond-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to be used for nonstop service to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Austin, Texas. Secretary LaHood asked me to respond to your letter. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips. We received applications proposing to serve AUS from two carriers, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Each sought two slot exemptions, which would support one daily DCA-AUS round trip; JetBlue also applied for two slot exemptions to serve San Juan, Puerto Rico. Other timely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, BritishColumbia; Alaska Airlines, one round trip to Portland, Oregon, and one round trip to San Diego; FrontierAirlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; 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, Icannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, Ican assure you that all applications the Department received will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action on this matter is being administered through apublic docket, which allows aU interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following ournormal practice, Iam placing acopy ofyour letter and this response in docket numberDOT-2012-0029. Iappreciate your interest in this matter. Sincerely yours,

Susan L. 

### Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsCOMMITIEES: TRANSPORTATION & HOMELAND SECURITY·**VICE·C~IAIR** BUSINESS 8c COMMERCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHER EDUCATION NOMINATIONS March 19,2012

TheHonorable Ray LaHood Secretary ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590 DearMr. Secretary: 

### KIRK WATSON STATE SENATOR

DISTRICT 14 CAPITOL ADDRESS P.O. BOX 12068 RooM E1.810 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 512/463·0114 FAX 512/463·5949

I am writing in support ofnonstop service between the Nation's capitol and the Texas capitol, from Ronald ReaganWashingtonNational Airport (DCA) to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Austin is the 14th largest

- and the third fastest-growing

- city in the United States with an MSA population of 1.8 million. This is a 37 percent increase since 2000. Moreover, ourpopulation is projected to reach2 million injustthree years. I'm proud to saythat AUS has grown right along with the city. I was pleased to serve as mayor ofAustin when AUS opened at its current location in 2000. 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. Ithas beennamed asone ofthe "Top 10 American Cities oftheFuture"by

### tDi Intelligence. Austin's unique blend ofeasy-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 entertainlilent events draw an ever-increasing number ofleisure visitors, the SXSW Interactive Conference and leadingresearch institutions examine pressing issues oftechnology and public policy also attract leading

.**~­** figures inbusiness and academia ona regularbasis. Consistent contributions to America's cultural, political, and intellectual life by Austin have helped many. Your award ofthe necessary slots for nonstop AUS-DCA service willensurethese contributions continue. Thank you for your consideration of Austin during this process. Please contact me ifI may provide any further assistance to youduringthis process. Sincerely,

# vf~~ Kirk Watson



### S10-120321-123