THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, O.C. 20590 April16, 2012 '·!·i! 1 i:i:il, The Honorable BarbaraBoxer United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Boxer: Thank you for your**letter~** eosigned by SenatorDianne Feinstein, supporting the recent aircanier applications to flynon-stop from Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) to San Francisco and SanDiego. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding tO new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips. We receive<! applications from Virgin America;**Inc.~** proposingtwo round trips to San Francisco; Alaska Airlines, one round trip to San Diego! and one round trip to Portland, Oregon; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin, Texas and beyond to San Diego; Frontier**Airlines~** one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; Air Canada, one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and one :roundtrip to Austin, Texas; and Su:n Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas. As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, I can assure you that all applications the Departmentrec.eived will be given full 

### and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified in th" statute. The Department's action on thls matter is bei allows all interested parties the opportunity placing acopy ofyour letter and this A

### similarresponse 

### has been sentto ministered through a public docket, which ent. Following ournormal practice, l am docket numberDOT-20 029.

### THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable Diane Feinstein United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 DearSenatorFeinstein: April 16. 2012

Thank you f'Or your letter, cosigned by SenatorBar-bara Boxer, supporting the recent air carrier applications to 

### fly non-stop from Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) to San Francisco and San Diego. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Refonn Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation willbe awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips. We received applications from Virgin America, Inc., proposingtwo round trips to San Francisco; AlaskaAirlines, one round trip to SanDiego, and one round trip to**Pc0rtland~** Oregon; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin, Texas and beyond to San Diego; Frontier Airlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyondto San Diego; Air Canada, one round trip to Vancouvert British Columbia; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and o.ne round 

### ttip to Austint Texas; and Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas. As the matter is still pending, Icannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in yourletter. However, Ican assure you that all applications the Department received will be given full and fairconsideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action on this matter is being administered through a public**docket~** which allows aU interested parties the opportunity to comtnent. Following our .nonnal practice, I run placing a copy ofyourletter and this re.sponse in docket numberDOT-2012

..()029.• 

# ilnitnl tatts**~matt**

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200New Jersey A venue SE Washington, DC 20590

Dear Secretary LaHood: WASHINGTON, 20510 March21, 2012

We write to you in supportofthe recent ttir carrier.applieationsto fly non.;stop frQm Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) to destinations in th.e state ofCalifornia, specifically San Francisco an:d San Diego. As you know, California is currently drastically underserved because ofthe limitations on non-stop, long distance flights out ofDCA. San: Francisco and San Diego arethe largest markets in the country that have not had non-stop serviceto the closest airportto our nation's capital.Increasing non-stop service from DCA to these California**des~tnations** will help increase travel options, lower fares and reduce travel time. for the 151 ,000 travelers that fly betweenDCA and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and the 125,000 travelers who fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to DCA each year by connecting through other cities. Air travel deman:d at SanFrancisco International Airport (SFQ) and San Diego International Airport (SAN) is strong; demand atSFO has grown 8percentin thelastfive.**years~** while flights from .other WashingtonArea airports. to SanDiego are at 

### full capacity an:d have some ofthe highestpriced fares for flights to westcoast cities. We were proudto.support**th~** provision in the recently passed FAA Modernization and Reform Act that allows for additional flights from DCA beyond the. perimeter, and we feel strongly that these applications to provide non•stop service to San·Fnmcisco and San Diego meet the criteria for the DOT competition outlined in

### the law. We thankyott for your consideration of these applications.

BarbaraBoxe United States Senator Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein United States Senator