### THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON,**o~c.** 20590



### The Honorable Shelley Berkley U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman Berkley: Aprill6, 2012 

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Thank you for yourletter**suppotti~g** 

### the application ofMN Airlines, LLC, operatingas Sun Country Airlines, for beyond-perimeter slotexemptious at Ronald Reagan Washiugton National Airport (DCA). Sun**Country~s** 

### application proposes to serve Las Vegas McCarran International Airport with one rotmd trip per day from DCA. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization andReform Act of2012, the U.S. DepartmentofTransportation will be 

### awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeightslotexemptions at DCA. which would supportfourdaily roundtrips. We received Sun Country's application on March 12. Othertimely applications were rec.eived frotn Air**Canada~**

### proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, oue round trip to San**Diego~ California~**  

### and one round trip to Portland, Oregon; Frontier Airlines, oneround tri.P to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlinesi one round trip to SanJuan, Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin and beyond to San Diego; and Virgin America, Inc.• two round trips to San Francisco, California. As tbe matter is still pending, Icannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised inyourletter. However, Ican assure yo.u that all applications the Departmentreceived 

## will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated againstthe selection criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action on this matter is being administered through apublic. dockett which allows all interested parties the opportunity tnment. Following ournormal**practice~** 

### I am placing acopy ofyour letter and tbis respo ndocketnumber DOT**12~0029.** 

### Iappreciate yourinterest in this matter.""SHElLEY BERKLEY

··- · 1st District, Nevada 405 Canno9 House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5965 shellex.berklex@mail.house.gov 2340 Paseo Del Prado Suite D106 Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 (702) 220-9823 

# QCongress of tbe mniteb**~tates ~ouse**  

# of laepresentatibes Wasbington,**~QC** 

# 20515-2801 Fax: (702) 220-9841 www.house.gov/berklex

Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590
RE: DOT-OST-2012-0029
Dear Mr. Secretary: March 19, 2012 COMMITTEES: WAYS AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE ON SELECT REVENUE MEASURES SUBCOMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SECURITY
CO-CHAIR, CONGRESSIONAL TAIWAN CAUCUS CO-CHAIR, GAMING CAUCUS CO-CHAIR, CONGRESSIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS CAUCUS

Co-CHAIR, CONGRESSIONAL STOP Ot)l CAUCUS

MN Airlines, LLC dba Sun Country Airlines, recently filed an application for an available landing and takeoff slot at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. The potential flights flown by Sun Country Airlines would be non-stop daily service between Reagan National Airport (DCA) to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS). Sun Country's flight schedule would be the only daytime nonstop flights between Washington, DC and Las Vegas and the fourth largest DCA O&D market outside ofthe perimeter.
With annual revenues ofapproximately $350 million, Sun Country is a profitable, successful company whose service includes charter flights on behalfofthe U.S. military domestically and internationally. Flights to Las Vegas have been steadily increasing since the unprecedented drop we experienced in 2008, and Sun Country Airlines is known nationally for its excellent service and low fares. Awarding the available takeoff and landing slots to Sun Country would provide an immediate competitive benefit for both the Las Vegas, NV and Washington, DC markets resulting in a doubling ofthe existing non-stop service between these airports. In addition, this new service would add jobs and expand the number ofvisitors to each city.
I support Sun Country's application consistent with relevant rules, regulations, and procedures. Please let me know if I can be offurther assistance to you on this matter. Sincerely,

Shelley Berkley Member ofCongress