U.S. Deportment 

of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

Mr. Larry V. Green, Esq. 

City Council Member, District K 

City ofHouston 

Houston, TX 77251-1562 

DearMr. Green: 

Assistant Secretary 

January 22, 2013 

1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE 

Washington. DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, supporting the application 

of Southwest Airlines (Southwest) for two within-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan 

Washington National Airport (DCA). Southwest proposes to serve Houston's William P. Hobby 

Airport with one nonstop round trip per day from DCA. Secretary LaHood asked that I respond 

to you on his behalf 

We received Southwest's application on December 5, 2012. Other timely applications were 

received from JetBJue Airways, proposing one nonstop round trip to Jacksonville International 

Airport, Florida, and from US Airways, proposing one nonstop round trip to Will Rogers World 

Airport in Oklahoma City. 

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 received by the U.S. Department of 

Transportation will be given due and careful consideration. 

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

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

placing a copy of your letter and this response in docket number DOT-OST-2000-7182. 

I appreciate your interest in this matter. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secl'etary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
. LARRY V. GREEN, EsQ. 

Houston City Council Member, District K. 

December 17, 201~ 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportatiol'l 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Docket No. DOT-OST-2000-7182 (Southwest Airlines.non-stop) 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

In the interest of promoting airline competition, affordable airfares and greater access between the 

Nation's Capital and Greater Houston, I respectfully request the Department of Transportation to 

approve Southwest Airlines' (Southwest's) application for two slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan 

Washington National Airport (DCA). Southwest proposes to use these slot exemption to begin daily 

nonstop service between DCA and Houston Hobby Airport (Hobby). Today, there is no scheduled air 

service between DCA and Hobby. 

The Houston-DCA market is underserved and overpriced. As the Nation's largest low-cost airline, 

Southwest is well suited to provide significant consumer benefits in this important market. Since 197t. 

Southwest Airlines has a proven track record of lowering ticket prices and stimulating more passenger 

traffic in the markets it enters. 

Through new competition, lower airfares, and the use of a 143-seat aircraft, Southwest's proposed 

service is projected to attractthousands of new passengers and generate millions of dollars of 

consumer benefits annually in the DCA-Houston market.. Business and leisure travelers stand to 

benefit if Southwest Airlines is able to bring low-fare competition to the Houston-DCA market. 

Again, I respectfully request that the Department Of Transportation approve Southwest's application for 

two slot exemptions at DCA. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this importantmatter. 

"':S10:'121227-013: 

TclcJ>hOnc (832) 393-3016 • P,O. Bo:x 1562 • Houston, Texas 77251-1562 • 900 Bagby, 1" Floor 

districtk@houstontx.gov 
P.O. Box 1562 

.f:Iouston. Texas 772$1-1562 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary ~f Transportation 

u.s. Department ofTransportaticm 

1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

l ,,\,Iii,, ,,")r\,1,\,,\1, .•