June 21, 2012

Ms
. Aloha Ley Associate Director Small Community Program Office of Aviation Analysis US Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE W86-310 Washington, DC 20590 Dear Ms
. Ley: 

# - J

As a major employer and company that depend on local air service in Walla Walla, I strongly support the air service proposal to enhance passenger services to the Walla Walla Regional Airport detailed in the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant application. The Walla Walla Regional Airport plays an important role in providing support to business, government, education, and leisure travel to and from our community. The $250,000 federal request would be coupled with $50,000 raised from our community to provide critical funding for a series of marketing initiatives to build both inbound and outbound traffic
. We are confident that this grant can make a significant difference for the future of commercial air service in the Walla Walla Valley. Our community and businesses like Key Technology currently face a very serious problem with the possible elimination of service with Alaska Airlines
. The loss of air service would be a devastating blow to our economy and the many sectors that rely on it for conducting and building their business in our valley. Founded in 1948, Key Technology is a public company with corporate headquarters located in Walla Walla. We have customers in 80 countries and over 500 employees worldwide. Each year, our employees, customers and partners depend on commercial air service to and from Walla Walla to conduct business
. The loss of air service would be detrimental to our ability to grow and to continue to provide the high quality of service we deliver to our customers in the US and around the world
. We greatly appreciate your serious review ofthe Port of Walla Walla's grant application
. Please help us make a difference in our community. if you wish to further discuss the merits of the application or how commercial air service is vital to Key Technology, feel free to contact me at 509-529 -2161. Sincerely,

# ~~e.J..,,.) John 

### J. Ehren President & Chief Executive Officer

150 Ave ry Street. Walla Walla
. Washi ngton 99362 -1 668 U
.S.A. Telephone 509 -529 -2151 • Fa>: 509-527 - 133 1•WebSite www.key.neiMARIA CANTWELL 'WASII!NGTCJN COMMITTEES: COMMEnCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPOfnATION

EVfRfTI 

# 'tinitcd rStatcs rScnatc EM'RGY AND NA !URAL HESOURCf'S

mJA,JCE 

### WASHINGTON, DC 20510-4705 IND!Ar" AFFAJRS SMALL BUSINESS 

### June 8, 2012

Ms. Aloha Ley Associate Director, Small Community Program Office ofAviation Analysis US Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE W86-310 Washington, DC 20590

RE: Walla Walla Regional Airport; FY 12 Small Community Air Service Development Program

Dear Associate Director Ley, I am writing to express my support for the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant application submitted by the Port ofWalla Walla, the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, Tourism Walla Walla, and the Walla Walla Chamber ofCommerce. The application will help implement a new Walla Walla Airport Coalition Marketing Plan designed to ensure continued passenger growth on inbound and outbound Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air) flights to Walla Walla Regional Airpot1 (ALW). A federal commitment will be matched with $50,000 in local funds. Typically, Walla Walla Regional Airport is served by two inbound and two outbound Alaska Airlines flights per day, with more than 32,000 total hoardings in 2011. Passenger numbers and load factors in the first quarter of2012 indicate that total hoardings for 2012 may surpass 2011 levels. That said, load factors are not yet sufficiently high to ensure long-term continued service from Alaska Airlines- the only scheduled carrier currently flying into and out ofALW. Alaska Airlines has indicated that unless load factors are raised, it will be forced to seriously consider discontinuing scheduled service to ALW. Walla Walla, Washington is geographically located near the cities ofMilton-Freewater and Pendleton, Oregon, two additional population centers that are currently underserved by scheduled aviation service. ALW is the closest airport to both ofthese cities and a federal investment designed to enhance air service at ALW, such as that which would be provided by a successful award from the Small Community Air Service Development Program, will benefit residents ofboth northeast Oregon and southeast Washington.

RICHLAND SEATILE SPOKANE TACOMA VANCOUVER WASHINGTON. DCMARIA CANTWELL C{lMMITTt!S WAD'1tNGfO'j**COMMfi\C~. Strt:.NU:~**  I.ND**";"P.ANC:oP0"'-1ATt0~">i** 

# llnitcd**~tatcs ~cnatc**  lNE'IGY A.NO'l4TUi'"t 'l(SOtJI-tt:l;$ WASHINGTON, DC 205'1l-47D5

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secrctnry United States Departmem ofTransportation 1200 New Jersev Avenue SE Washington,**lX~** 20590 June 8, 2012

RE: Walla Walla Regional Airport; FY 12 Small Community Air Service Development Program

Dear Secretmy LaHood, I am writing to express my support for the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant application submitted by the Port ofWalla Walla, the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, Tourism Walla Walla, and !he Walla Walla Chamber ofCommerce. The application will help implement a new Walla Walla Airport Coalition Marketing Plan designed to ensure continued passenger growth on inbound and outbound Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air) flights to Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW), A federal commitment will be matched with $50.000 in local funds. llJStl'lf"'S

Typically, Walla Walla Regional Airport is served by two inbound and two outbound Alaska Airlines flights per day, with more than 32,000 total hoardings in 201 L Passenger numbers and load factors in the first quarter of2012**indi~ate** that total hoardings for 20 I2 may surpass 20 II levels. That said, load factors are not yet sufficiently high to ensure long-term continued service from Alaska Airlines- the only S<:heduled carrier currently flying into and out ofALW. Alaska Airlines has indicated that unless load factors are raised, it will be forced to seriously consider discontinuing scheduled service to ALW. Walla Walla, Washington is geographically located near tire cities ofMilton-Freewater and Pendleton, Oregon, two additional population centers !hat are currently underserved by scheduled aviation service. ALW is the closest airport to both ofthese cities and a federal investment designed to enhance air service at ALW, such as that which would be provided by a succe5'ful award from the Small Community Air Service Development Program, will bcnelit residents ofboth northeast Oregon and southeast Washington

Y.ll::**W1,1~~'** ''·", -"'*''**/tA~t'i:'' ~~;_~;**  '>!)..\ y**~~**

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### "" w,,l**ar.w,!<•i~"''J'l·'J!'•** rACUMA '!!>.'**~-'·''·"~ ~'**  -,(,)0.1.1.**NIJ.JS.IJ~** \'AI*{;OWfJI

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.**.fr,f·1>····'l':d.~'** >;, i:\\o/:i'-*-'JS'"'**W.I.S"tnGfO~** !'It 51J[)n;...;;f>,SUvrtrJ•**WJ\l>t~!>''"•** rt:IC-'3\IJ-.+Jf'> !i'i...!ill4J4.11 r'-'-':lU2:Ziil**OS\~** This project proposal is an excellent example ofpublic private partnership and will help ensure the maintenance ofexistingjobs and the possibility offurtherjob growth as S<:heduled aviation service is maintained and, over time, hopefully expanded further at Walla Walla Regional Airport I ask you give this application your fullest consideration. Sincerely,

# ~~- UnitedStatesS

# ~ enator

S10· 120627-001

### Providence St. Mary M edical Center P

0 3ox1 4l l 40 i W
. Pop lar Sm>et Wal la Wal la
. VVI' 99362 (509) 525 3320 wwws mrn c.com



### June 21, 2012 Ms
. Aloha ley Associate Director Small Community Program Office of Aviation Analysis US Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE W86·310 Washington, DC 20590 Dear Ms
. ley: 

# t PROVIDENCE St. Mary Medical Center

As a frequent business traveler ofWalla Walla, I strongly support the air service proposal to enhance passenger services to the Walla Walla Regional Airport detailed In the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant application. The Walla Walla Regional Airport plays an important role in providing support to business, government, education, and leisure travel to and from our community. The $250,000 federal request would be coupled with $50,000 raised from our community to provide critical fund ing for a series of marketing initiatives to build both inbound and outbound traffic. I am confident that this grant can make a significant difference for the future of commercial air service in the Walla Walla Valley
. Our community currently faces a very serious problem with the possible elimination of service with Alaska Airlines
. The loss of air service would be a devastating blow to our economy and the many sectors that rely on it for conducting and building their business in our valley. 

### 1greatly appreciate your serious review of thf" Port ofWalla Walla's grant application
. Please help us make a difference in our community. Ifyou wl.$h to further discuss the merits ofthe application or commercial air service in Walla Walla, feel free to contac.t me at 509-522-5890. Thank you in advance for your attention to th is important matter.

Steven A, Burdick, CEO

# -

# ~~**COUl\TY~Q&WA:LLA** WALLA '**~---- ~** **-~**

# ~ STATE OF m\SHINGTON**-~(/,t ~**  

### ' BOARD OF COU.l\TI'**COM~USSIONERS:-=-** 

### _ 

## ·?! I



### Ms. Aloha ley Associate Director Small Community Program Office ofAviation Analysis US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE W86-310 Washington, DC 20590 Dear Ms. ley: As chair of the Waf! a Walla County Board of Commissioners, and speaking on behalf ofthe entire Board, we strongly support the air service proposal to enhance passenger services to the Walla Walla Regional Airport detailed in the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant application. The Wafla Walla Regional Airport plays an important role in providing support to business, government, education, and leisure travel to and from our community. The $250,000 federal request would be coupled with $50,000 raised from our community to provide critical funding for a series of marketing initiatives to build both inbound and outbound traffic. We are confident that•this grant can make a significant difference for the future of commercial air service in the Walla Walla Valley, Our community currently faces a very serious problem with the possible elimination of service with Alaska Airlines. The loss of air service would be a devastating blow to our economy and the many sectors that rely on it for conducting and building their business in our valley. When flying on county business, it 

### is 

### by far more efficient for us and our employees to be able to fly out of the Walla Walla Airport, and we depend on that. We greatly appreciate your serious review of the Port of Walla Walla's grant application. Please help us make a difference in our community. Ifyou wish to further discuss the merits of the application or commercial air service in Walla Walla, feel free to contact this office at 509/524-2505. Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter. 

### Sincmly, 

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# 1m
. 

# l::n.**Tompki&i~** I
___ Boart of County Commissioners
\\:\LL\ WA !,L\**CO\i~n·** PUFILIC HEAlTH ,\i\D I**YCI~** LA'I'I\"E 1\l'ILD!l\'G

- :l!4 WEST**~!AI** :X PJ). BOX l.").HH .-**w~u** \ W\l.l \.. \\ •.\Sfli'\'GTO:\**1-m:Jti:!.n:~u** ... W\H.'()-C4muuh.
...**iont.'~@(·o.w.tlfa~v,·**••Jia.\\';c.u.; PHO:\T. C"'(lH)**}.2A-~.)o;}** • 1'.\.\:**:;~fi'll** W l-.:3-.) li IJi,tdct :>Jo. [ JAM t:S K. JOIINSOI\: I**)i~tdd** :\o. Z PEHRY L. J)(JZIFR Di't,.ict**~o.** J GREGORY A, TO\IPKJ\.'iJune 21 , 2012

Ms
. Aloha Ley Associate Di rector Small Community Program Office of Aviation Analysi s US Department of Tran sportation 1200 New Je rsey Avenue, SE W86 -310 Washington, DC 20590 Dear Ms. Ley: As a major employer and company that depend on local air service in Walla Walla, I strongly support the air service proposal to enhance passenger services to the Walla Walla Regional Airport detailed in the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant application
. The Walla Wa ll a Regional Airport plays an important role in providing support to business, government, education , and leisure travel to and from our commun ity. The $250,000 federal request would be coupled with $50,000 raised from our commun ity to provide critical funding for a series of marketi ng initiatives to build both inbound and outbound traffic. We are confident that this grant can make a significant difference fo r the future of commercial ai r service in the Walla Walla Valley. Our community and businesses like Key Technology currently face a very serious problem with th e possible el im ination of service w ith Alaska Airlines. The loss of air service would be a devastating blow to our economy and the many sectors that rely on it for conducting and building their business in our valley. Founded in 1948, Key Technology is a public company with co rporate headquarters located in Walla Walla. We have customers in 80 countries and over 500 employees worldwide
. Each year, our employees, customers and partners depend on commercial air service to and from Walla Walla to conduct bu siness. The loss of air service would be detrimental to our ability to grow and to continue to provide the high quality of service we deliver to our customers in the US and around the world
. We greatly appreciate you r serious review of the Port of Walla Walla's grant application
. Please help us make a difference in ou r community
. If you wish to further discuss the merits of the application or how commercial air service is vital to Key Technology, feel free to contact me at 509-529-2161. Sincerely,

John 

### J
. Ehren President & C hi ef Executive Officer