Memorandum 

U.S. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

at Transportation 

Subject: 

From: 

Notice of Communication in case: 

Docket DOT -OST -2010-0018 

Peter Rogoff ;J?'~ Under Secretary for Policy 

Susan L. Kurland QJ J 1 

Assistant Secretary for A &f.J-­ and International Affairs 

Date: JAN 27 2015 

Reply to Reese Davidson 

Attn. of: x68161 

To: Chief, Dockets 

In accordance with Department rules (14 CFR Part 300), we are reporting the 

following communications. 

On January 14,2015, Sam Ricketts of Governor Jay Inslee of Washington's office 

left each of us a substantially similar voicemail requesting to speak about the 

Department's ongoing proceeding to consider the allocation of a pair of slots for 

service to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (Haneda). Mr. Ricketts then sent a follow-up 

e-mail to both of us expressing his support for allocating the slot pair for service 

between Seattle and Haneda. Ms. Kurland left Mr. Ricketts a voicemail 

explaining that neither she nor Mr. Rogoff could discuss an ongoing proceeding. 

A summary of the voicemail that Mr. Ricketts left each of us, a copy of the 

follow-up e-mail that Mr. Ricketts sent to both of us, and a summary of the 

voicemail that was left for Mr. Ricketts is attached. 

Summary of Mr. Ricketts' voicemails on January 14,2015: 

Mr. Ricketts, who handles federal affairs in the Washington, D.C., office of 

Governor Jay Inslee of Washington, requested to speak about DOT's examination 

of air routes between Haneda and U.S. destinations. Mr. Ricketts noted DOT's 

ongoing proceeding and commented that the flight between Seattle and Haneda 

is very important to the strong economic ties between Washington and Japan. 

Mr. Ricketts expressed his hope that DOT will select Seattle for direct air service 

to Haneda and noted that he would be sending a follow-up e-mail regarding this 

topic. 

Copy of e-mail from Mr. Ricketts to the both of us: 
Davidson, Reese (OST) 

Subject: 

Attachments: 

FW: Haneda-Sealac air service 

Govlnslee_letter_USDOTSecFoxx_l20814.pdf 

From: Ricketts, Sam (GOV) [mailto:Sam.Ricketts@gov.wa.gov] 

Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 2:25PM 

To: Rogoff, Peter (OST); Kurland, Susan (OST) 

Cc: Monroe, Kevin (OST) 

Subject: Haneda-SeaTac air service 

Dear Peter and Susan, 

Happy new year to you both. I just left you each a voicemail on this issue, as well, and want to catch up with you about 

USDOT's examination of the direct air service between Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Seattle-Tacoma International 

Airport. Governor lnslee wrote to Secretary Foxx on this issue last month, and I have attached that letter for your 

reference. 

Specifically, direct air service between Haneda and SeaTac is important for our state economy and trade ties with Tokyo 

and Japan, and the Governor opposes moving the only direct flight with service to Haneda to another airport. As I am 

sure you know, other states who have been advocating to replace SEA's air service already have ample service to 

Haneda; 7 out of the 8 Haneda slots to and from the U.S. go to just two states- Hawaii and California. 

Delta Airlines has indicated that it will increase connecting service for the Seattle-Haneda flight, from 51 daily departures 

in 2014 to 85 in 2015, and more thereafter. And this is good news for the wide range of Washington industries that 

benefit from this direct air service, from aerospace to info tech to retail to tourism. 

As you know, in 2013 US DOT determined that the best use of this slot was for service to and from Seattle, because it 

would provide the first nonstop Haneda service to a community and state that lacked that service. We feel that rationale 

is even stronger today, and hope the Department will decide to continue this important service. 

I would be very appreciative of the chance to discuss, and otherwise appreciate your consideration of this perspective. 

Thank you both. 

Sincerely, 

SAM RICKETTS 

Director, Washington, DC Office I Office of Governor Jay lnslee 

Desk: 202.624.3691 I Cell: 360.584.6362 

www.governor.wa .gov I sam.ricketts@gov.wa.gov oo=@ 

1 
Summary of voicemailleft for Mr. Ricketts: 

Ms. Kurland explained that neither she nor Mr. Rogoff could discuss the 

substance of an ongoing case, and that a summary of the communication would 

be placed in the docket. 

Please place this memorandum in Docket DOT -OST -2010-0018. 

Peter ~ Rogoff 

Under Secretary for Policy 

cc: Mr. Sam Ricketts 

Jit~ L.Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation 

and International Affairs