The Honorable Al Franken United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Franken; .**···"··Yfiu-·~;1-r .~** 


### . . , , i>\tr, 1Vlt:f\ 1 

### 01·· THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPOATATIONi: 

### :/J·!.(J'ORTATJ()U wASHINGToN, 

### o.c. 2os9o 

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### or)ERATk)f,Js

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### ll. Aprill6, 2012

Thank you for your letter supporting the applitation ofMN Airlines, LLC, operating as Sun Country Airlines, for beyond-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Sun Country's application proposes to serve Las Vegas MeCarran International Airport with one round trip per day from DCA. Under authority granted in the FAA Modemitation and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers a total ofeight slot exemptions .at DCA, which would supportfour daily round trips. We received Sun Country's application on March 

### 12. Other timely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip ta Vancouver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one round trip to San Diego, California, and one round trip to Pottland, Oregon; Frontier Airlines, one .round trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan., Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin and beyond to San Diego; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips to San Francisco, California. As the matteris still pending, I ca1u1ot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, I can assure you that all applications the Department received will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated agaillst the selection criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action on this matter is being administered through a public docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, I an1 placing a copy ofyour letter and this res docket number DOT-201 29.

### The Honorable Ray 

### LaHood Sectetary Department ofTransportation**1~00**

### NewJersey**Avenqe~** 

### SE Wa$llmgton, DC 20590 

### Dear Secretary LaHood! 

# 'lintttd**~tatts** 

# i'enatt WASHINGTON, be**~051()-.23tJ9** 

### March28, 2012

### ,l,m~wci~Yt~otd:tt~ort,ofSmtCoumry**Airl:b,l~s~**,a ..· ·

### ~;~,.~ 

### ltiliding andtakeoffslot at Ronald Reagan National Airp.ort:in 

## Was 

# '·:''n:

. would be non-stop daily service between Reagan NationalAirport (DCA)

### ~d Las Vegas· McCarran International Airport (LAS). Sun Country's schedule would provide 

### the only daytime nonstop flights in.the fourth largest DCA marketoutside ofthe.perimeter. , Sun Country Airlines is well known nationally for its exceltent service and lowfares; .and is based in the great state ofMinnesota. Awarding the available takeoffand landing slots to Sun Country would provide an lmmediate competitiVe benefit for both the Las Vegas, NV and Washington, DCmarkets, resulting in a doubling ofthe existing non-stop service between thes.e airports. In addition, the new service would also result in the creation ofadditionaljobs and 

### economic spending.
I appreciate your careful consideration ofthis request. Ifyou have any questions; please do nothesitate to contact me, or Jake**Schwitt~;tt** 

### ofmy staff, at202·224-5641.



## s 10-120404-030 

### Sincerely,**en~.~** 

## / Unitec! States Senator $01'11;**S~Q '202...at4~l**