The Honorable Al Franken 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Franken; 

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THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPOATATIONi: :/J·!.(J'ORTATJ()U 

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Aprill6, 2012 

Thank you for your letter supporting the applitation of MN 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 of 2012, the 

U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent 

carriers a total of eight slot exemptions .at DCA, which would support four 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 matter is still pending, I ca1u1ot comment on the merits of the 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 of your letter and this res docket number DOT -201 29. 
The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Sectetary 

Department ofTransportation 

1~00 New Jersey 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 and takeoff slot at Ronald Reagan National Airp.ort:in Was '·:''n: . would be non-stop daily service between Reagan National Airport (DCA) ~d Las Vegas· 

McCarran International Airport (LAS). Sun Country's schedule would provide the only daytime 

nonstop flights in.the fourth largest DCA market outside of the. perimeter. , 

Sun Country Airlines is well known nationally for its exceltent service and low fares; .and 

is based in the great state of Minnesota. Awarding the available takeoff and landing slots to Sun 

Country would provide an lmmediate competitiVe benefit for both the Las Vegas, NV and 

Washington, DC markets, resulting in a doubling of the existing non-stop service between thes.e 

airports. In addition, the new service would also result in the creation of additional jobs and 

economic spending. 

I appreciate your careful consideration of this request. If you have any questions; please 

do not hesitate to contact me, or Jake Schwitt~;tt of my staff, at 202·224-5641. 

s 10-120404-030 

Sincerely, 

en~.~ / 

Unitec! States Senator 

$01'11; 

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