SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. 

 Robert W. Kneisley 

 Associate General Counsel 

 1901 L Street, N.W. – Suite 640 

 Washington, D.C. 20036 

 (202) 263-6284 

 (202) 263-6291 Fax 

 bob.kneisley@wnco.com 

 

_______________________________________________________________________________

December 22, 2011 

Filed in the Docket Electronically 

The Honorable Susan Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Application of AirTran Airways, Inc. for Exemption 

(Chicago MDW-Cancun); Docket No. OST-2011-0225 

Dear Ms. Kurland: 

Attached is a packet of letters supporting AirTran Airways’ application to provide 

service in the Chicago (Midway)-Cancun market. These letters come from a diverse 

array of organizations and elected officials in the Chicago area. 

 Sincerely, 

 

 _____________________ 

 Robert W. Kneisley 

cc: Paul Gretch 

Brian Hedberg 

Brett Kruger 

Todd Homan 

Esta Rosenberg 

Counsel for Frontier Airlines, Inc. 
Letters Supporting 

AirTran Airways’ Proposed Chicago Midway-Cancun Service 

 U.S. Representative Dan Lipinski 

 Speaker of the Illinois House Michael Madigan 

 Jerry Roper, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce 

 Patrice Brooks, EVP of the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce 

 Carlos Tortolero, Founder, National Museum of Mexican Art 

 Dr. Vincent Allocco, President of El Valor 

 John Bournan, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

STATE OF ILLINOIS

MICHAEL J. MADIGAN ROOM 300

 SPEAKER STATE HOUSE

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62706

December 12, 2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Exemption Authority for Scheduled Air Service Between Chicago, IL and Cancun, 

Mexico, Docket No. OST-2011-0225

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

As you know, I am proud to represent Midway International Airport (MDW), which is a dynamic and 

growing large-hub airport in the heart of Chicago’s South Side. MDW offers my constituents, as well 

as millions of others who work and reside in the Greater Chicago area, hundreds of daily flights to 

destinations throughout the continental United States. However, while domestic air service is strong, 

convenient, and affordable at MDW, international service has not kept pace. For instance, despite 

being one of the largest airports in the U.S., MDW does not have nonstop service to Cancun, Mexico. 

The United States-Mexico bilateral agreement allows only three U.S. airlines to provide service 

between Chicago and Cancun. At present, the route is served by American Airlines, United Airlines, 

and USA3000, all from Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD). However, USA3000 is reported to be ending 

service as soon as January 31, 2012. In anticipation of USA3000's termination, AirTran Airways 

(AirTran), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines (Southwest) – Chicago’s second largest air 

carrier in terms of passengers and MDW’s largest air carrier with approximately 220 daily departures –

has applied for one of the three international designations to Mexico. AirTran proposes to provide 

daily scheduled service from MDW to Cancun, leaving the other two designations for ORD. 

I contend strongly that MDW deserves nonstop service to Cancun. MDW’s vibrant origin and 

destination passenger base, combined with Southwest and AirTran’s vast domestic network, makes 

the AirTran application a sure winner for Chicago and is undoubtedly in the U.S. public’s interest. With 

Southwest/AirTran service, not only would my constituents benefit, but nearly every major U.S. market 

would be within one-stop of Cancun via MDW. 

 

For these reasons, I respectfully request that the U.S. Department of Transportation award a ChicagoCancun designation to AirTran for daily scheduled service at MDW. Thank you in advance for your 

consideration of this request. 

With kindest personal regards, I remain 

 Sincerely yours,

MICHAEL J. MADIGAN

 Speaker of the House