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



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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 LawGENERAL 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

12 00 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 ai r 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