July 13,2012 Ms._Aloha 

### Ley Office 

### ofAviation

# 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 ornl5atfy 30% 

### ofall 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 ofthe 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'BusinessAssociations


### :c: !11e 

### Honorable Ray 

### H. LaHood ',ecretary ofTransportation ' J

nited States Department ofTransportation '200New 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 ofthe 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.siderIJle 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 ofCommerce GulfCoast Builders Exchange GulfCoast Mortgage Bankers aBA 

### Manatee-Sarasota .,,kewood Ranch Business Alliance ·



# .. .'
..trasota 

### l\ssocmtion ofRealtors 

### jiesta Key Chamber ofCommerce l enice 

### Area Board ofRealtors 

# -

,.