.. 

THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

The Honorable Lloyd Doggett 

U.S. House ofRepresentatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Doggett: 

April19., 2012 i7 ' v u~ I 

Thank you for your letter supporting the application of Southwest Airlines for two beyondperimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Southwest's 

application proposes to serve Austin-Bergstrom International Airport with one round trip per day 

from DCA. 

Uuder authority granted in the FAA Modernization ~,md Reform Act of2012~ the 

U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limitedincurnbellt 

carriers a total of eight slot exemptions at DCA. which would support four daily round trips. 

We received Southwest's application on March 12. Other timely applications were received 

from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one 

round trip to Portland, Oregon, and one round trip to San Diego; Frontier Airlines~ one round trip 

to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBiue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, 

.Puerto Rico~ and one round trip to Austin, Texas.; 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, I cannot 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 against the selection criteria specified in the statute. 

The Department's action on this matter is being administered through a public docket, which 

allows aU interested parties the opportuni omrnent. Following our n.ommJ practice, I am 

placing a copy of your letter and this in docket number DOT -201 29. 
"" ,LLOYD DOGGETT 2~fH DISTRICT, TEXA$ 

COMMITIEE ON 

WAYS AND MEANS 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON 

HEALTH 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON 

SELECT REVENUE MEASURES 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON 

SOCIAL SECURITY 

COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET 

JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

US Dept of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Q:ongrrss of the ianited tStatrs 

'!louse of 1Reprrsentatioes 

March 16, 2012 

Re: Docket DOT -OST -2012-0029 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

WASHINGTON OFFICE: 

201 CANNON HousE OFFICE ButLDtNG 

WASHINGTON, DC 20515 

(202) 225-4865 

DISTRICT OFFICE: 

300 EAST 8TH STREET, SUITE 763 

AUSTIN, TX 78701 

(512) 916-5921 

LLOYD. DOGGETT@ MAIL.HOUSE.GOV 

www.house.gov/doggett 

1-866-916-5921 

As the U.S. Representative for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA), I write in strong support 

of Southwest Airlines' (Southwest's) application for a pair of beyond-perimeter slot exemptions at 

Washington National Airport. With these beyond-perimeter slot exemptions, Southwest proposes to 

operate the first-ever "capital-to-capital" nonstop flight between ABIA and National Airport. I believe 

such service is long overdue and deserving of your Department's favorable consideration. 

Southwest has operated at ABIA since 1977. For the past 35 years, both Southwest and ABIA have 

grown and prospered. Today, Austin-area residents benefit from the variety of air service options 

resulting from a healthy and competitive environment at ABIA. However, despite a strong overall level 

of competition at ABIA, the airport currently lacks nonstop service to National Airport. As a result, 

current travel options between ABIA and National Airport are limited and relatively expensive. 

Southwest's proposal would provide low-cost carrier competition to an un-served route. 

Moreover, Southwest proposes using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 175 seats to serve this route. Such a 

large aircraft will increase capacity significantly in the Austin-Washington, DC market, as well as 

maximize the use of scarce beyond-perimeter slot exemptions. It will also increase job opportunities in 

order to service the new daily flight and to accommodate the increase passenger traffic. 

For these reasons, I respectfully request the Department of Transportation provide full and fair 

consideration to granting a pair of beyond-perimeter slot exemptions to Southwest so it can begin AustinWashington nonstop air service. 

Sincerely, 

Lloyd Doggett 

PAINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER