THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON DC 20590 

The Honorable Maria Cantwell 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Cantwell: 

July 17, 2012 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Port of Walla Walla, the 

Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, Tourism Walla Walla, and the Walla Walla Chamber of 

Commerce 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 

communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or 

insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no mme than 4 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 of projects that can be funded. 

On May 15, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a 

grant this year tile their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the 

Department, I cannot comment on the merits of any particular proposal. I assure you that the 

Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a of your letter and this response in Docket 

DQT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outs' e t e record of this matter. your interest in 

this program. 
MARIA CANTWELl WASHINGTON 

coMMmees: 

COMMERCE. SCIENCE. AND 

TRANSPORTATION 

EVERm 

'tlnited ~teres ~enete 

ENERGY AND NATURAL 

RESOURCES 

FINANCE 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510-4705 

INDIAN AFFAIRS 

SMALL BUSINESS 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

United States Department ofTranspm1ation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington. DC 20590 

June 8, 2012 

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

Dear Secretary LaHood, 

I am writing to express my support for the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant 

application submitted by the Port of Walla Walla, the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, Tourism Walla 

Walla, and the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce. 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 (AL W). 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 of 20 I 2 indicate that total hoardings for 2012 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 

scheduled carrier currently flying into and out of AL W. Alaska Airlines has indicated that unless load 

factors are raised, it will he for,ced to seriously consider discontinuing scheduled service to AL W. 

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. AL W is the closest airport to .both of these cities and a federal investment designed to enhance 

air set:" ice at AL W, such as that which would be provided by a successful award from the Small 

Community Air Service Development Program, will benefit residents of both northeast Oregon and 

southeast Washington. 

RICHLAND SEA TILE SPOKANE TACOMA WASHINGTON. DC 

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VANCOUVER 

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. 1313 Omcrns' Row 

511 01mcseN SENATE Or.1CE Bu1t01tlo 

WAS~INGTON, DC 20510-4705 . 

EvE om. \VA 98201 

(425}303·0114 

FAX: 1425) 303-8351 FAX: 1509) 941Hi937 

~· S10-120627-001~ 

TOI.l FREE: 1-llS&-64&-7328 

FM<: (106) 120-64ll4 

(509) 353-1507 

FAJ<: 15091353-2547 

Web: http11cantwell.senato.gov 

PAINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 

Tf,cOMA. WA 98402 

1253) 572-2281 

FAX: 1153) 572-5879 

FiRST FlOOR 

VANCOUVER, WA 98661 

1:360) fi96-7S38 

F.u: 1360) 69&-7844 

1202) 224-3441 

FI\X: 12021228-0514 
This project proposal is an excellent example of public private partnership and will help ensure the 

maintenance ofexistingjobs and the possibility of further job growth as scheduled aviation service is 

m.aintained and, over time, hopefully expanded further at Walla Walla Regional Airport. 

I ask you give this application your fullest consideration. 

Sincerely, . ~ 

~~~~., Maria Cantwell 

United States Senator 

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