THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable Joe Heck, D.O. U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 DearCongressman Heck: May02,20l2

Thankyou for your letter supporting the application ofMN Airlines, LLC, operating as Sun Country Airlines, for beyond-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport(DCA). Sun Country's application proposes to serve Las Vegas McCarran International Airportwith one round trip per day from DCA. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act**of2012~** the U.S. DepartmentofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips. We received Sun Country's application on March 12. Othertimely applications were received from Air**Canad~** proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; AlaskaAirlines, one

. round trip to SanDiego, California, and one round trip to Portland, Oregon; Frontier Airlines,;

one round trip to Colorado Springs, Colon.tdoJ 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 beyond to SanDiego; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips to San Francisco. As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, I can assure you that all applications the Departmentreceived will be given full and fair consideration and 

### will be evaluated tl.gainst the selectiotl criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action on this matter allows all interested parties the opp placing acopy ofyour letter and thi I appreciate yourinterestin administered through apublic docket, which comment. Following our practice, I am se in docketnumber DOT 29.

Ray LaHoodJOSEPH J. HECK 1·**;•"\!ll'i"DI~;m>t·r,** NEVADA 132 CANNON Housn Orrtet 81.JLU)!NC WMHINGTOI'l, DC 20515-2803 COMMITIEE ON ARMED SERVICES

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# of tbe 1lltnitdl**~tates** 

## 1!)ou55c of 11\rpresentatibe% mmtasbington. il!)Qf: 20515-2803 84B5 We;,·r StJNS!::-I ROt\.0, Surr.t .300 lAC Vt<V•S, NV 89113-2251 ('1021 337-4941 EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE**COMMITTE~ P~RMANENT**  SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE

·Honorable Ray LaHood

Secretary ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 DearMr. Secretary: March 29, 2012

I strongly support the application ofMN Airlines, LLC dba Sun Country Airlines for an available landing and takeoffslot at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. Sun Country Airlines proposes a non-stop daily service between ReaganNational Airport (DCA) to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS). Sun Country's schedule wouldprovide the only daytime nonstop flights inthe fourth largest DCA O&D market outside ofthe perimeter. Sun Country Airlines is well known nationally for its excellent service and low fares. Awarding ofthe available takeoffand landing slots to Sun Country would provide an immediate competitive benefit for boththe Las Vegas, NV and Washington DC markets resulting in a doubling ofthe existing non-stop service betweenthese airports. In addition, the new service would also result inthe creation of jobs in SouthernNevada, which currently ranks among the highest inthe nation in unemployment. I would sincerely appreciate providing your fullest consideration to Sun Country's application. Should you have any questions please do nothesitate to contact my staffmember, James Langenderfer. Mr. Langenderfer canbe reached at 202-226-7438.

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