THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATtON 

WASHINGTON, O.C, 20590 

The Honorable Harry M. Reid 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Reid: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the application of MN Airlin~. 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 McCarran International 

Airport with one rotind trip per day from DCA. 

Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, 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 applicaticms were received 

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

round trip to San Diego, California> and one round trip to Portland, 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 Austi11 and beyond to San Diego; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips to 

San Francisco, California. 

As the matter is still pending, I cannot 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 against 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 opportuni omn1ent. Following our no· 1 practice, ram 

placing a copy of your letter and this in docket number ·DoT - 29. 

I appre'ciate your interest in 
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HA.RRYREID 

NEVADA 

MAJORITY L.EAOER 

.. , 

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The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary . 

U.S. Department ofTransportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590~000~ 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

WASHINGTON. DC 20610-7012 

March ~2, 2012 

. I a,m writing to you today in support of the application ofMN Airlines, LLC dba Sun 

Country Airlines, for an available landing and takeoff slot at Ronald Reagan Nati~nal Airport in 

Washington, DC. The planned route would provide non·stop daily service betw~n Reagan 

National Airport and Las Vegas McCarran Internati~nal Airport. The proposed schedule would 

greatly benefit the travelling public by providing daytime flights, giving passengers greater 

· fleJ:Cibility for when they can travel and filling a void which c:urrently exists between these two 

markets. · 

Because there is only one operator that serVi~s this route, Sun Country's entry into the 

market would increase competition and reduce fares for consumers. As· you may know, the only 

available direct route comm~ds a higher ticket fee than on connecting flightS between these two 

airports. Sun Country Airlines is well known nationally for its excellent service and low fares. 

By awarding the available landing and takeoff slQts to Sun Country, the competitive benefits 

would be immediate by doubling the existing non-stop service options between th~ two airports. 

Furthermore, the new service would create valuable jobs and economic b~nefits to a state which 

has been hardest hit by the recession. · 

The FAA Modemi7.atioa and Reform Act of2012 provides eight additional long-range 

slots landing and taking off from Reagan National Airport, one of which could .. be filled by Sun 

C9untry. I hope ~~t you carefully consider the application by Sun Country Airlines and evaluate 

the great benefits this.proposed route will provide to the State ofNeyada. 

If you have any questions, you may contact Bob Herbert ofiny staff at 202-228-4578. 

My best wishes to you. 

Sincerely, 

s 10-120323-003 

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