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August 27, 2010 

The Honorable Ray I.aHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 7* Street, SW 

Washington DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

As president and CEO for the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana - a four county 

regional economic organization - we are constantly speaking with business leaders about the level of air service 

available from Evansville, Indiana. Though we have good access to many airline hubs, there are a few gaps in 

air service which if filled would help our region's economy to grow 

The Evansville Regional Airport plays a key role in connecting southwest Indiana, northwest Kentucky 

and southeaster Illinois to the rest of the nation. But Evansville Regional Airport has been saddled with high 

average airfares which has suppressed travel and forced businesses to look elsewhere when thinking about 

expansion. 

In the Great Lakes region, Evansville Regional Airport has the highest average fares - averaging $225 

each way or $450 round trip. Evansville is the single most expensive medium-sized market in which to fly in or 

out in the entire Great Lakes region; and, unfortunately, the situation could get worse this coming Fall. 

Following its merger with Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines has announced it will leave the 

Evansville-Memphis market. This loss of seats will compound the fare pressure in the Evansville market 

without a mechanism to bring lower fares to the region. 

Low-fare leader AirTran has expressed interest in serving Evansville, but in order for AirTran to take a 

risk in launching new service to a brand new city in the current economic environment, it will require a revenue 

guarantee to offset potential losses during the start up phase. 

It is our hope that if the AirTran can be enticed to provide new service to the east coast they will 

consider air service to other markets as well. For example, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana serves as the 

"mother plant*' for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas in San Antonio, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana 

employs 4,100 workers in Southwest Indiana with another 2,000 employees at the new San Antonio facility. 

The "mother plant" manufacturing support system calls for significant travel between the two facilities and 

either direct flights to San Antonio fh>m Evansville or additional connecting flights through southern bub cities 

such as Dallas, Houston or Memphis would facilitate future growth. 

Evansville Regional Airport - Small Community Air Service Development Grant - August 2010 25 
u/., 

Other cities critical to the region's busines.s sector include Chicago (Midway), St. Louis, Cleveland and 

New York City. Global businesses such a.s Bristol Myers Squib, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, SABIC Innovative 

Plastics, American General Finance and Alcoa are dependent upon good air access if they are to compete in the 

ever-changing global market. 

The economic future of southwest Indiana, southeastern Illinois and northwest Kentucky is greatly 

dependent upon our ability to grow the transportation infrastructure, and improved air service at Evansville 

Regional Airport would be supported by the region's businesses. It is for that reason that I endorse the 

Evansville Regional Airport's application for this important grant, and await a favorable decision from the U, S, 

Department of Transportation. 

Sincerely, 

)X--

_ tgory Wathen, APR 

President & CF.O 

Evansville Regional Airport ~ Small Community Air Service Development Grant - August 2010 26