July 13,2012 

Ms._ Aloha Ley 

Office of Aviation fhWysis 

1200 New Jersey .NVe., SE, W86-310 

Nashington, ~.205~&,. ;t('ot, 

Dear Ms. Ley: 

21 

,I 

f am writing as Chair, Coalition of Business J\ssociations, to express our strong support :for the above 

, eferenced grant application to the Small Community Air Service Development Program. The recent 

, :ecision by Southwest Airlines to pull Air'fran service trom SRQ is a major blow to the air service and 

;oonomic competitiveness of the entire region serv,(id by Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. 

:\ir'fran ·accounterl for over 360~000 ua&Sefigers or nl5atfy 30% of all passenger traffic at SRQ in 2011. f'\(j(;l((,f )().T:02J::07 /ll(lifb . . . 

;:iifraso~· Br~dento'n ai~il~trtfers 'ft.om ~Y.i~k ~f ~ccess to a westbound airline ~ateway. This forces local 

;onsumers to drive to other airports, thereby inflicting t.>conomic damage on the local economy. J :)' • 

'1. 1997 Economic·Jm~?,act Study completed as part of the SRQ Master Plan Update revealed that .:f7% of 

ui'enplanements ar'SRQ were out of area visitors spending an average of $665.00 per visit. Using the 

CY 2011 Ah'fran passenger tratfic this equates to 102,600 visitors to the SRQ area. When combined 

'.vith the 100>000 passengers lost due tO no westbound service this equates to a loss of over $105;000,000 

of .d~ visitor expenditures a~ually. ·when the multiplier effect is factored in it equates to a loss of 

i1eariy $285,000,000 of economic impact and 2,600 jobs to the area. 

fhe·commttnity is partnering with the airport to match the lp'ant funds dollar tor dollar on this critical 

'flatter. We ask the Department consider the ser10us ne~ative etfects the recent approval provided to 

\mthwest ;-\irlines to acquire AirTran Airways has had on our COUltllunlty and approve the application 

:Jr :wsistance. Thank you tor your consideration. 

:)incerely, 

!:rick Shumway, Chair 

,,·aaiition qj'Business Associations 

:c: !11e Honorable Ray H. LaHood 

',ecretary ofTransportation 

' J nited States Department of Transportation 

'200 New Jersey Avenue., 

'hshin!r:,fton, OC 20590 
•· 

.Policy Position Regarding SRQ Grant Application 

'The Coalition of Business Associations (COBA) strongly suworts Saiasota Bradenton 

Kntemational Airport's (SRQ) application for the Small Community Air Service Development 

?rogram grant (Docket DOT~OST-.2012·0069.) 

T11e recent decision by Southwest Airlines to pull AirTran service from SRQ is a major blow·to 

:he air service and economic competitiveness of the entire region served by Sarasota Bradenton 

international Airport. AirTran accounted for over 360,000 pa.9sen~ers or .neariy 30% of all 

passenger traffic at SRQ in 2011. 

We ask the Department con.sider IJle seriou$ negative effects the recent approval provided to 

- .Jouthwest Airlines to acquire AirTran Airways has had on our community and approve the 

~pplication for assistance. 11umk you tbr your consideration . 

. \rgus Fmmdation 

r'he Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce 

Gulf Coast Builders Exchange 

Gulf Coast Mortgage Bankers 

aBA Manatee-Sarasota 

.,,kewood Ranch Business Alliance · .. .' .. trasota l\ssocmtion of Realtors 

jiesta Key Chamber of Commerce 

l enice Area Board of Realtors 

-,.