o 

U.S. Department of .i';i -^itMTO > icril_y>, f , 1200 New Jersey Ave,. S.E. 

Transportation • •i-irO^iAU^l'^., Washington, oc 20590 

Office of me Secretary j^^^^ ^ 29. 201^*^^^^'^''^ ^ 

Of Transportation 

Mr. Fi«d S. Morgan 

President and CEO 

The State Chamber of Oklahoma 

330 N.E. IO* Street 

Oklahoma City, OK 73104-3220 

Dear Mr. Morgan: 

Thank you for your letter of March 8 to Secretary Ray LaHood, supporting the application of 

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

Washington National Airport (DCA). These two slot exemptions are available for reallocation 

under 49 U.S.C. § 41718(b) as a result of the return of two such exemptions that had earlier been 

granted for service to Jackson, MS. Secretary LaHood asked that I respond to your letter on his 

behalf. 

Southwest's application, which the Department received on March 5, proposes to serve 

Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City from DCA with one round-trip per day. Other timely 

applications for the exemptions were received from Frontier Airlines, proposing service to 

Louisville, KY, and US Airways, proposing to continue the service to Jackson. 

As the matter is still pending, I hope you understand that we cannot comment on the merits of 

the points raised in your letter. However, I can assure you that ail applications the Department 

receives will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection 

criteria specified by statute. 

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 DOT-2000-7182. 

I appreciate your interest in this matter. 

Sincerely yours. 

Robert Letteney 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
THE STATE CHAMBER OF OKLAHOMA Fred s. Morgan 

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATES FOR DUSINESS Presidenr ond CEO 

March 8,2012 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Docket OST-2000-7182 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

On behalf of The State Chamber of Oklahoma, I write in strong support of Southwest 

Airlines' (Southwest's) application for daily nonstop service between Ronald Reagan 

National Airport (DCA) and Will RogersAirpoit in Oklahoma City (OKC). Southwest 

projptose^ to initiate the Only noristopseivice between Oklahoma and DCA. Such direct 

access to tlie Nation's Capital would be exceptionally beneficial tQ the business 

community of Greater Oklahoma City. Considering the size and strength of Oldahoma 

City's business community, we believe nonstop service to DCA is fully justified, if not 

overdue. ' > 

Greater Oklahoma City is growing rapidly. Led by its vibrant energy-related industries 

as well as the defense and aerospace sQctors, Oklahoma City is one of the fast growing 

communities in the United States. Ck)mbined with the Federal Aviation 

Adrhinistration's Mike MohrbneyAercnautics Center and the U.S. military's Tinker Air 

Force Base, Oklahomans have considerable business before the federal government, 

which drives demand for more direct, convenient and firequent air service to 

Washington, D.C. 

Today, vdth no nonstop service to DCA, tens of thousands of OKC travelers fly annually 

to DCiA on connecting itinetaries. In fact. OKC is the largest origin and destination 

market located within DCA's 1,250-mile perimeter vxithoiit nonstop ser/ice. Moreover, 

average ticket prices on these connecting itineraries in the DCA-OKC market are 

relatively expensive. We are confident that nonstop service fi-om a low-fare leader like 

Southwest will produce significant fare savings, in addition to more convenient access to 

•DC^A . • ••••• • • ..•.•;.; . . . . _ 

In'siinimaiy, given Greater Oldalionia City's strong origin and destinatiori passenger 

b^e,'cbnlbilied with Southwest's vast domestic network, Southwest's application for 

OKC-DCA service is a sure winner for consumers and is undoubtedly in tiie U.S. public's 

-interest ^ • _: • •;• • . .• . ••. • 

'330 N.E. 10th Street • Oklahoma Cify, OK 73104-3220 E-maif: (morgan^iotslotetihamber.com 

MgiU35-3669 . FAX (405) 235-3670 Web site: v^^^w.oksfotechombe.com 

S10-12032 3-0 51 First Accredited State Chamber in the Nation 
The Honorable Ray LaHood 

March 8,2012 

Page 2 

Therefore, we respectfiilly request the Department of Transportation to award the two 

slot exemptions at issue in this proceeding to Southwest Airlines so that it can begin 

daily scheduled service between OKC and DCA. Thank you in advance for your 

consideration of this request. 

Sincerely, 

^ ^ <p-^ ^ 

Fred S. Morgan 

FSM:GRC:rm 

S10-120323-051