THE SECRETARY O,F TRANSPORTATION · 

The Honorable John Garamendi 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 205 15 

Dear Congressman Garamendi: 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

May02, 2012 

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting n()nstop service 

to Sacramento International Airport from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). 

As your lettet states, under authority granted in the FAA Moder:nization and Reform Act of 

2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited 

incumbent carriers a total of eight slot exemptions at DCA. which would support four daily 

round trips, for service beyond the airport's 1,250 mile perimeter. 

A total of seven carriers submitted timely applications for these exemptions. While the 

application submitted by Virgin America, Inc., did propose two round trips to San Francisco, no 

carrier proposed nonstop service to Sacramento. Other timely applications were received from 

Air Canada. proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one 

round~trlp to Portland, Oregon, and one round .. trlp to San Diego; Frontier Airlines~ one round 

trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, 

Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin 

and San Diego. beyond; and Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas. 

As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits of the points raised in your letter. 

However, l can assure you that all applications the Department received will be given full and 

fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified in the statute. 

The Department~s action on this matter is being admitUstered through a public docket, Which 

allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, I am 

placing a copy of your letter and this response i docket number DOT-2012 .. 0029. 

A similar response has been sent to 

matter. 
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

The Honorable Wally Herger 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear CongressmaJ;l Herger: 

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting nonstop service 

to Sacramento International Airport front Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). 

As your letter states, under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 

2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited 

incumbent carriers a total of eight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily 

round trips, for service beyond the airport's 1,250 mile perimeter. 

A total of seven carriers submitted timely applications for these exemptions. While the 

application submitted by Virgin America, Inc.~ did propose two round trips to San Francisco, no 

carrier proposed nonstop service to Sacramento. Other timely applications were received from 

Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one 

round-trip to Portland, Oregon, and 0ne round-trip to San Diego; Frontier Airlines, one round 

trip t0 Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, 

PUerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin 

and San Diego beyond; and Sun Country Airlines. one round trip to Las Vegas. 

As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits of the points raised in your lette.r. 

However, I can assure you that all applications the Department received will be given full and 

fair consideration 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 comment Following our normal practice, I am 

placing a copy of your letter and this response in docket number DOT ~20 12-0029. 

A similar response has been sent to each c 

matter. 
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

· The Honorable Daniel E. Lungren 

U.S. House of Representatives· 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear CongreSS1llall Lungren: 

May02,2012 

Thank. you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting nonstop service 

to Sacramento International Airport from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). 

As your letter states, under authority granted in the FAA Mod.emization and Reform Act of 

2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited 

incumbent carriers a total of eight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily 

round trips, for service beyond the airport~s 1~250 mile perimeter. 

A total of seven carriers submitted timely applications for these exemptions. While the 

application submitted by Virgin America, Inc., did propose two round trips to San Francisco, no 

carrier proposed nonstop service to Sacramento. Other timely applications were received from 

Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one 

round-trip to Portland, Oregon~ and one round-trip. to San Diego; Frontier Airlines, one round 

trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; .JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, 

Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin 

and San Diego beyond; and Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas. 

As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits of the points raised in your letter. 

However" I can assure you that all applications the Departm.ent received will be given full and 

fair consideration and will be evalWl.ted against the selection criteria specified in the statute. 

The Department's action on this matter is being administered through a public docket, which 

allows all interested parties the opportunity to c ent. Following our normal practice, I am 

placing a copy of your letter and this respon'Se c~t number DOT-2012-0029. 

A similar response has been sent to each c 

matter. 
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

The Honorable Doris 0. Matsui 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congresswoman Matsui: 

May 02, 2012 

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting nonstop service 

to Sacramento International Airport fron1 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). 

As your letter states, under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 

2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited 

incumbent carriers a total of eight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily 

round trips, for service beyond the airport's 1,250 mile perimeter. 

A total of seven carriers submitted timely applications for these exemptions. While the 

application submitted by Virgin America, Inc., did propose two round trips to San Francisco, no 

carrier proposed nonstop service to Sacramento. Other timely applications were received fron1 

Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver. British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one 

round-trip to Portland, Oregon. and one round-trip to San Diego; Frontier Airlines, one round 

trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlueAirlines, one round trip to San Juan, 

Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Aidines, one round trip to Austin 

and San Diego beyond; and Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas. 

As the matteris still pending, I cannot cotnment on the merits of the points raised in your letter. 

However, I can assure you that all applications the Department received will be given full and 

fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified in the statute. 

The Departmenfs action on this matter is being administered through a public docket, whi.ch 

allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal p.ractice, I arn 

placing a copy of your letter and this response · docket number DOT -20 12~0029. 

A similar response has been sent to each 

matter. 
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

The Honorable Mike Thompson 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Thompson: 

May02, 2012 

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues> supporting nonstop service 

to Sacramento International Airport from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). 

As your letter states, under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 

2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited 

incumbent carriers a total of eight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily 

round trips, for service beyond the airport's 1,250 mile perimeter. 

A total of seven carriers submitted timely applications tor these exemptions. While the 

application submitted by Virgin America, Inc., did propose two round trips to San Francisco, no 

carrier proposed nonstop service to Sactamento. Other timely applications were received from 

Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one 

round-trip to Portland~ Oregon, and one round .. trip to San Diego; Frontier Airlines, one round 

trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan~ 

Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin 

and San Diego beyond; and Sun Country Airlines, om~ round trip to Las Vegas. 

As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits of the points raised in your letter. 

However, I can assure you that all applications the Department received will be given full and 

fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified in the statute. 

The Departmertf's action on this matter is being administered through a public docket~ which 

allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practicet I am 

placing a copy of your ll;~tter Md this response in docket number DOT-2012-0029~ 

A similar response bas been sent to each. ate your interest in this 

matter. 
Otougress of t~e Jtniteb ~fates 

illa.ul}ingtnn, iJC!t 20515 

The Honorable Raymond L. LaHood 

Secretary 

Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

April 4, 2012 

As you are most likely aware, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, as passed and signed into 

law, includes a provision authorizing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to award sixteen (16) new 

flight slots (8 round-trip flights) between Washington Reagan Airport (DCA) and domestic airports 

located beyond that airport's 1,250 mile flight "perimeter limit." The initial beyond perimeter awards 

were made in 2004. Airports receiving this service included Denver, Seattle and Phoenix. 

In this new round of slot awards, eight flight "slotc;" { 4 round trips) will be awarded to "incumbent" 

legacy airlines already operating at DCA; specifically American, Delta, United and US Airways. Eight 

additional flight "slots'' (4 round trips) will be awarded to "new entrant and limited incumbent" carriers. 

With the exception of one flight from Los Angeles, California remains the largest beyond perimeter 

market without nonstop access to DCA. 

Incumbent carriers have recently filed their preferred routes with the DOT and these new routes include 

service to San Francisco (United}, Los Angeles (American Airlines), Salt Lake City (Delta), and San Diego 

(US Airways}. Sacramento was highly competitive with San Diego for the US Airways selection but 

ultimately was not successful. 

Among the critical initiatives contemplated in the award of these slots are: the encouragement of 

competition, improved service to under-served communities, and service opportunities for new entrant 

airlines. Vet, this allocation by the incumbents amounts to little more than providing the already wellserved communities with additional options and leaving under-served cities like Sacramento without 

nonstop access to DCA. 

The "new entrant and limited incumbent carriers" have submitted their applications to the DOT, and it is 

our understanding that San Francisco (SFO) has also been identified as a beyond-perimeter point of 

service for new entrant or limited incumbent carriers in order to provide a competitive alternative to 

United Airlines in the SFO-DCA market. With SFO already selected for nonstop DCA service by 

Incumbent United Airlines, the Northern California and East Bay markets would be better, and more 

competitively served, if Sacramento were selected for one of the round trips applied for by a new 

entrant or limited incumbent carrier. 

510-120405-002 91\INUO ON RECVC~ED PAPER 
-

Sacramento is the capital of California, which as a state Is the 9'h largest economy In the world. As such, 

capital to capital air service is a transportation Imperative that will significantly facilitate efficient and 

timely governmental and economic interface, and, as such, should be considered as a higher priority 

than simply increasing the level of competition that will be available in already well-served markets. 

Air travel between Sacramento and the Washington D.C. area represents an economically strong 

business case. Currently, a total of approximately 2SO passengers per day (each way) use Sacramento 

International Airport (SMF) to fly to the three airports {DCA, BWI, lAD) that serve the Washington D.C 

area using existing nonstop, one-stop or connecting air service. Airlines serving the Sacramento to 

Washington, D.C. route operate at average annual load factors in excess of 87% and extract a premium 

price in excess of $243 (before taxes and fees) one~way for available service. Extensive route analyses 

Indicates that nonstop service from SMF to DCA would be highly stimulative to the Northern California 

and East Bay markets; would facilitate the political and economic commerce between these major 

capitals; and would be financially successful. 

Our constituents and local communities have expressed support for this additional flight option and as 

their elected representatives, we are asking for your consideration In awarding one of the round trip 

"slots" to SMF. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact either 

Peter Tateishl in Congressman Lungren's office at peter.tateishi@mall.house.gov, or Jill. Harrelson in 

Congresswoman Matsui's office at iill.harrelson@mall.house.gov. 

Joh 

Me 

Sincerely, 

lih_r;s 0. lhA"f:kcl 

Doris 0. Matsui 

Member of Congress 

Mike Thompson 

Member of Congress 

cc: Susan Kurland, Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

s 10-120405-002