U.S. Department ofTransportation Office of the Secretory ofTransportation 

### Dr. WilliamPowers Jr. President The University ofTexas at Austin P.O. BoxT Austin, Texas 78713-8920 DearDr. Powers: Assistant Secretary April 20, 2012 1200 NewJel'$ey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590



### Thankyou for your letterto Secretary ofTransportation Ray LaHood, supporting the award of oeyond-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to be used for nonstop service to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS}, Austin, Texas. Secretary LaHood asked me to respond to yourletter. Underauthority granted in the FAA Modernization and Refonn Actof2012, the U.S. DepartmentofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant orlimited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slotexemptions atDCA, which would support four daily round trips. We received applications proposing to serve AUS from two carriers, SouthwestAirlines and JetBlue Airways. Each sought two slot exemptions, which would support one daily DCA-AUS round trip; JetBlue also applied for two slot exemptions to serve San Juan, Puerto Rico. Other timely applications were received from AirCanada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; AlaskaAirlines, 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; Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips to San Francisco. As the matteris still pending, Icannot commenton the merits ofthe points raised in yourletter. However, Ican assure youthat all applications the Departmentreceived 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 apublic docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our nonnal practice, Iam placing acopy ofyour letter and this response in docket number DOT-2012-0029. Iappreciate yourinterest in this matter. Sincerely yours,

usan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsTHE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN William Powers, ]1:, President University Distinguished Teaching Professor Hines H. Bakerand Thelma Kelley Baker Chairin Latv Main Building 400 ·POBox T•Atestin, Texas 78713-8920

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary ofTransportation March 27,2012

United States Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590 Re: DocketDOT-OST-2012-0029 Dear Secretary LaHood: DirectNumber (512) 471-1232 Facsimile Member (512) 471-8102 presidmt@po.tttexas.edu

I write to you today on behalf ofThe University ofTexas at Austin to give mY enthusiastic support for the addition ofdaily, non-stop flights between Austin-Bergstrom Intemational Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The University ofTexas at Austin would gain immediate benefit from this service. Likewise, the capital city of Texas and the entire Central Texas region-on which the activities of the University have significant economic and cultural influence--would benefit immensely as well.Currently, travelers must make connecting flights to travel from AustinBergstrom to Reagan National, or else take a direct flight to Dulles and make their way into Washington via surface transportation. The efficiency provided by direct flights between Reagan National and Austin-Bergstrom would foster economic benefits at each destination. In these challenging economic times, Austin's economy is one ofthe most vibrant in the country, and this success is reflected in consumer demand for air travel. The market for this service already exists. The continued vibrancy and growth ofseveral high-tech industries in the greater Austin metro area, coupled withthe existing resources in place at The University of Texas at Austin, generates strong potential for future economic success in this region-potential that would be cultivated significantly by the convenience ofnon-stop flights between Washington and Austin. I am especially excited about the possibility of these non-stop flights as we continue to work within our local community to explore the creation ofa medical school for the University here in Austin, as well as continue to cultivate the world-class educational opportunities and researchprograms we have here on campus.



### S10-120329-051The Honorable Ray LaHood March 27,2012 Page2
Both Austin and Washington would be well-served by non-stop service between the two cities provided by a dependable, safe, and efficient carrier. I understand that a number ofcarriers have applied to provide this service, including SouthwestAirlines, and I strongly encourage you to approve one ormore ofthese applications for this service. Thrulk you for your consideration in this matter, and for all that you do to make ourtransportation system in the United States among the best inthe world.

WP/dwd



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# Sioo~ WilliamPowers, Jr. President