U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Of!ice or the secretary 

ofTronsportalion 

Mr. Michael C. Turpen 

Assistant Secretary 

January 17, 2013 

Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis 

5801 N. Broadway Extension, Suite 101 

Oklahoma City, OK 73118 

Dear Mr. Turpen: 

1200 h'ew Avel'lue, SE 

Wasn1ngtcm. 20590 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood~ suppotting the application 

of US Airways for two within~perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National 

Airport (DCA). US Airways proposes to serve Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport 

with one nonstop round trip per day from DCA. Secretary LaHood asked that I respond to you 

on his behalf. 

We received US Ainvays' application on December 5, 2012. Other timely applications were 

received from Southwest Airlines, proposing one nonstop round trip to Houston's William P. 

Hobby Airport, and from JetBlue, proposing one nonstop round trip to Jacksonville International 

Airport in Jacksonville, FL. 

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 received by the U.S. Department of 

Transportation will be given due and careful consideration. 

The Depattrnent'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 am 

placing a. copy of your letter and this response in docket number DOT -OST -2000~ 7182. 

I appreciate your interest in this matter. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
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The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

ATTORNEYS AND CoUNSELORSATlAW 

THE PARAQON BUILDING SUITE 101 

5S016ROADWAY EXTENSION 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OkLAHOMA 73118-7489 

( 405) 843~9'9.09 

Fax (405) 842-2913 

December 13,.2012 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 Nt:w Jers~y A vt:nue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Docket OST-2000-7182 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

IKE Lu¢ERO, JR MAITO, MAT>J~SON 

.( J"-ATR~K MEJIStfiiN~, .JI\ 

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STEPHEN Q PETERS 

C~~R)'l. A PETERSON 

JQN M, PS:YTON 

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\iARRIS H l'RESCOTT KElS~L QUf~lAN 

FRED RAHAL. JR: LISA 'R ·fliOOS . 

M DAVID ~IGGS 

Sn,!.PHEN E!·R]LEY MARY· J. R.QUN_b·s 

OE\!U>RJ; A, SA»10SC01 KRISTEN E .. SHiUINGTON 

t<ENN~~M SM\r'H LAURENt) SIJIIH 

I write in strong support of US Airways' application for daily nonstop service 

between Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and WiU Rogers World Airport in 

Oklahoma City (OKC). US Airways proposes to initiate the only nonstop service 

between Oklahoma and DCA . .Such direct access to the nation's Capital would be 

exceptionally beneficial to our community. Considering our size and the strength of 

Oklahoma City's business community~ we believe nonstop service to DCA is fully 

justified and long overdue. 

Today, with no nonstop service to DCA, tens of thousands of OKC travelers fly 

annually to DCA on connecting itineraries; Oklahoma City is the largest metropoJitan 

area located within the 1,250-mile perimeter without nonstop service to DCA 

Granting>the DCA slots wiil also trigger the introduction of two daily, first-ever, 

round trips between OKC and Charlotte, NC (CLT); the third-largest airline hub in the 

United States, offering connections to over 125 destinations. This obviously provides 

even greater public benefit to our growing city. 

You cannot read the news without knowing that greater Oklahoma City has defied 

many recent economic challenges. Led by its vibrant energy-related induStries and 

defense and aerospace sectors, Oklahoma City is one of the fastest growing communities 

in the United States. Combined with being the seat of state government and home. to the 

Federal Aviation Administration's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center and the U.S. 

military's Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahomans have considerable business before the 

TULSA • OKLAHOMA CITY • DENVER 

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ASHLEY R. WEBB 

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GARYW WOOD 

OICovnut 

SenJ3l"nti'I.P Ab;ttey 

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C:I'Jat}ti'"S.Chap~N 
December 13, 2012 

Page2 

federal government, driving demand for more direct, convenient and frequent service to 

Washington, D.C. 

In summary, given the greater Oklahoma City's strong local passenger base 

combined with US Airways' vast domestic network, US Airways' application for OKCDCA service will provide the maximum benefits for consumers and is undoubtedly in the 

public interest. 

Therefore, we respectfully request the Department of Transportation to award the 

two slot exemptions at issue in this proceeding to US Airways so that it can begin daily 

scheduled service between OKC and Ronald Reagan Washington National and Charlotte 

Douglas International airports. Thank you in advance for your consideraf on of this 

request.