# I THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC 20590

The Honorable Heath Shuler U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Shuler: July 17, 2012

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Asheville Regional Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. · The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller communitiesaddress air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or insufficient service. Under**th~** statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no morethan4 awards may be to communities in the same State. In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects that can be funded. On May 15, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by June ll. As these grant requests ate pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particularproposal. 1assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. f your letter and this respons ·n Docket record ofthis matter. I apn · te your interest in this program.HEATH SHULER 11TH DISTRICT, NoRTH CAROLINA

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June6, 2012

TheHonorable RayLaHood, Secretary U.S. DepartmentofTransportation
· 400

## i 11 Street, SWRoom 10200

Washington; 

### D.C. 20590 

### DearSecretary LaHood: Ca·CHIIIA COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND.INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMliiTit:E Olf HIGti\'/AVSN/0TIW4$1T

5C!!tOMMtTTEE Oli**!iCOtlO~IlC** 0EV£l0i'M£11f, I'USL!c 8UILOIIIG8, o\1<0fMeROCifCV himi\G£MEHT COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGGT THE STEERING AND I'OLICY COMMimE llro!OIW.W1«t

I 

### run writing to you today 

### in suppolt the Asheville Regional Airport's Small Community Air ServiceDevelopment Grant. This gt·ant will allow for new and improved services 

### in the western region of our state. This region is growing, and enhanced air sel·vice is imperative to the economic vitality of the area. Quality air service aids our economy t!ll'ough improved access for visitors, tourism a11d is important to business growth and retention. 

### The western region has 

### a noted connection to 

### the Denvet· market

- both fi·om 

### a leisure and business travel perspective. 

### I know 

### that 

## s% of ilibound travelers come from Colorado, and many more fi:om the \vest. Also, significant business development is occurring by Colorado and western state-based businesses in t.h.e Westem North Carolina region. Enhanced air service to and fl·om Denver and westem states is a positive fit for the direction ofgrowth this region is experiencing. However, they have experienced the loss 

### oflow-cost aircaniet' 

### AirTrnn in the past year, 

### and as a result, have seen airfares begin to rise to levels much greate1· 

### than theircompetitors are expedencing. The Asheville Regional Ait'portl1as put together a two-fold platl to mitigate the rising air fares they are**e~periencing** due to the loss ofAirTranAirways this year. Specifically, the 

### plan focuses first on attracting 

### anothet• low-cost air service provider to serve the Denver market, and potentially additional markets lost when AirTtan was acquired bySouthwest. Second, the plan ensures that sufficientmarketing will occur to snppott the new low-.fure carrier's success in the WNC market, and includes a focus on strengthening the newly formed travel advisory group - 

### a consortium ofbusiness leaders, economic developers and t01.U'ism representatives who meet quarterly to discuss air service needs, advocacy and utilization.**rnlliTfDO~** OECVCtEOrAPER

## ..

tt•-**~** •• TheHonorable RayLaHood, Secretary June 6, 2012 Page2

Your time and consideration ofthe Asheville Regional Airport's gl'antrequestwould be greatlyappreciated. Sincerely,

Heath Shuler MemberofCongress HS/jvc. •·

.

P/l!llf£0011 REC'I'CllD roVER 

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