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



### The Honorable Jackie Speier U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Speier: April 16,2012

Thank you for your letter supporting the application ofVirgin America, Inc., for four beyondperimeter slotexemptions at Ronald Reagan WashingtonNational Airport (DCA). Ifawarded those exempti.ons, Virgin America wot1ld pi'Ovide two daily round-trip flights from DCAto San Francisco. Under authority grantedinthe 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 atDCA, which would supportfour daily round trips. (j: 

### 0

We received Virgin America's application on March 12,2012. Other timely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to**Vancouver~** 

### British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, oneround trip to Po.rtland, Oregpn, and one round trip to San Diego; FrontlerAirllnes, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyondto San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to SanJuan, Puerto Rico, and one round trlP to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin and SanDiego beyond; and Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to 

### Las Vegas.
As 

### the matter is stilt pending, Icannotcomment on the merits ofthe points raised in you.r letter. However, Ican assu.re youthat allapplications the Departmentreceived will be given ftill and fair considerationand will be evaluated againstthe selection criteriaspecified in the statute. The Department's action on this matter**it~.** 

### be allows .all interested parties the apport\ placing acopy ofyo\.lr letter and this 1appreciate yourinterest in ministered through apublic docket. which ment. Following our normal**practice~.** 

### Iam in docket numberDOT-20 29.,. ,\;, JACKIE SPEIER COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY 12111 01SintCI. CAliiORNIA



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March 19,2012
The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington. D.C. 20590 COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM SUBCOMMITTEES; REOULI\Tonv AFFAIRS, STIMULUS Ovtnslour ANO GOVEI\tiMENT SPENDING TARP, F»IANCIAL S£AVICGS J\110 BAILOUT& OF PUD1.1C AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS

TECHNOLOGY, hiFORMATIOtl POI.ICV, AND PROCUREMENT REFORM

lication ofVir in America Inc. fo1· "Be ond-**~am** writing to express my strong support for Virgin America's proposal to provide two nonstop flights between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Reagan National Airport (DCA). With no current service at DCA and as the only airline headquartered in California, Virgin America is uniquely suited to bring meaningful low-fare competition to the largest market in the nation ·previously without nonstop flight service to DCA: the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, Virgin America is the only carrierto apply to provide service between DCA and SFO.
As you are well aware, the recently signed FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012 authorizes you to award new flights between DCA and domestic airports located beyond the current 1,250 mile perimeter limit. Historically, the Bay Area has been shut out from DCA nonstop service, with all "beyond-perimeter" flight awards being made to non-California airports

- with the exception ofa daily flight at Los Angeles. Previous DCA awards have been made to smaller markets, including: Denver (fourroundtrip frequencies) and Phoenix (three roundtrip**fr~quencies).** In terrrie ofpassengertraffic, San Frn.t"lciSCO dwarfs these and all otherbeyondperimeter markets. Because SFO has been the largest beyond-perimeter market without nonstop flights to DCA, local travelers have had limited options- either**trav~l** to Washington Dulles or a one-stop connecting flight when traveling to downtown Washington, D.C.
When making this critical decision, Iurge you to considerthe positive impact ofimproving the connection between Washington D.C. and the dynamic innovation-based economy in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley. Allocation oftwo round-trip flights to Virgin America will provide assurance that the Bay Area will finally have efficient, modern and low-fare nonstop flight service to DCA.
Since its launch in 2007, Virgin America has lowered fares and provided a unique new service option. In addition, the cruTier's decision to headquarter in my district (in Burlingame,



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California) has created thousands oflocaljobs. Virgin America has established a maintenance hub at SFO, and is providing pilot simulator training locally. The airline has grown to over 2,500 employees, with plans to add 500 newjobs on an annual basis over the next three to five years. When more airlines compete, consumers and local economies win- with lower fares, improved service and localjob growth. The award oftwo roundtrip flights to the carrier will both spur continued local economic growth and ensure that SFO-DCA travelers will finally benefit from real competition. Thank you for your consideration ofmy request. All the best, 

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