U.S.Departmentof Transportation Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washington, DC 20590 

### Office ofthe Secretary ofTransportation 

### Mr. Matt Mauer Battalion Chief, Aircraft Rescue Division Kansas City Fire Department Kansas City, MO DearMr. Mauer: 

## APR 07 2014

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### Thankyoufor your letterto Secretary ofTransportation Anthony Foxx, supportingthe application ofSouthwestAirlines (Southwest) for two within-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald ReaganWashingtonNational Airport (DCA). Southwestproposes to serve Kansas City International Airport with one nonstop round trip per day from DCA. Secretary Foxx askedthat I respond to you onhis behalf. We received Southwest's application onMarch 25, 2014. Othertimely applications were received from JetBlue Airways, proposing one nonstop round trip to Jacksonville, Florida; from American Airlines, proposing one nonstop roundtrip to Islip, New York, and; from People Express Airlines, proposing one nonstop round trip on a seasonal basis to eachMyrtle Beach, South Carolina (April-October) and WestPalmBeach, Florida (October-April). As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment onthe merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, I can assure youthat all applications receivedbythe U.S. Department of Transportationwill be given due and careful consideration. The Department's action onthis matter is being administered through a public docket, which allows all interestedpartiesthe opportunityto comment. Following our normalpractice, I am placing a copy ofyourletter and this response indocket number DOT-OST-2000-7182. I appreciate your interest inthis matter. Sincerely yours,

Susan L. 

### Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

### Valaitis, Ada (OST) From: 

### Sent: To: 

### Subject:

Dear Secretary Foxx: Matthew

### J. Mauer <Matt.Mauer@kcmo.org> Tuesday, March 25, 2014 2:43 PM Anthony Foxx (OST) Flight authorizations MCI-DCA (Docket No. DOT-OST-2000-7182)

Re: Docket No. DOT-OST-2000-7182 I understand thatthe U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) is considering reallocating the necessary flight authorizations at Washington National Airport (DCA) that Southwest Airlines currently uses to operate daily nonstop service to and from Kansas City International Airport (MCI, locally-known as KCI). I am writing to express my supportfor low-cost airline competition in the MCI-DCA market and, in particular, to advocate for Southwest's low-fare brand and large plane service. I personally have already used this flight totravel from Kansas City to Reagan National fortraining events, to lobby my elected representatives atthe U.S. Capitol, to meet with labor groups, and to workwith the FAA. Withoutthis competitive fare, my options to DCA are limited and more expensive. I appreciate Southwest's presence at MCI. Southwest began serving the MCI-DCA market in February 2014, after another airline dropped this route. Without Southwest's daily flight to/from DCA, myself and other consumers in the Greater Kansas City area are have been left with the only remaining choice, a monopoly service using regional jets. Southwest's one daily nonstopflight currently operates a Boeing 737 representing nearly half ofthe seats on this nonstop route, underscoring how underserved the MCI-DCA market would be ifSouthwest is no longer able to retain this flight. Incidentally, every flight I have taken on this route has been within two orthree seats offull. Simply put, the MCI-DCA market is ofthe size and importance where a low-fare option is particularly critical for local consumers. Moreover, as MCI's largest airline and the America's largest low-cost carrier, Southwest provides important one-stop and connecting options for DCA-bound passengers from other parts ofthe United States. In its application, Southwest proposes new one-stop, same-plane service to/from Oakland, California (OAK) via MCI. For these reasons, I would respectfully urge DOT to approve Southwest's application to serve the MCI-DCA market on a permanent basis. Please let me know what else I can do to help Southwest retain this route. Respectfully yours, Battalion Chief Matt Mauer Kansas City Fire Department Aircraft Rescue Division 816 810-7688

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