U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

Ms. Deb Russell 

Board Chair 

US Business Leadership Network 

1310 Braddock Place; Suite 101 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

Dear Ms. Russell: 

Assistant Secretary 

January 18~ 2013 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

(;': 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary of Transpqrtation Ray LaHood, cosigned by Jill D. 

Houghton, supporting the application of Southwest Airlines (Southwest) for two withinperimeter 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 JetBlue Airways, proposing one nonstop round trip to Jacksonville Intern1;ltional 

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, I am 

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

I appreciate your interest in this matter. An identical letter has been sent to Ms. Houghton. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
u.s. Department 

of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

Ms. Jill D. Houghton 

Executive Director 

US Business Leadership Network 

1310 Braddock Place, Suite 101 

Alexandria, VA 2231 4 

Dear Ms. Houghton: 

Assistant Secretary 

January 18~ 2013 

1200 New JerSey Avenue. SE 

Washington. DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, cosigned by Deb Russell, 

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 JetBlue Airways, proposing one nonstop round trip to Jacksonville International 

Airport, Flodda, and from US Ainvays, 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, I am 

placing a copy of your letter and this response in docket number DOT-OST-2000-71 82. 

I appreciate your interest in this matter. An identical letter has been sent to Ms. Russell. 

Sincerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
DISA/3/LITY AT WORK 

December 11, 20 t 2 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Docket No. DOT~OST-2000-7182 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

US Business Leadership Network® {USBLN~ 

t 310 Braddock Place, Suite lO l 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

Phone: (800) 706-2710 

Fa)!:: {&00) 70~-1335 

infol@.usbln.org 

www.usb!n;org 

On behalf of the US Business Leadership Network® (USBLN<l), we write in strong support of Southwest Airlines' 

application for two slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Southwest proposes to begin 

daily nonstop service between Houston Hobby Airport (Hobby) and Washington DC's only downtown airport. 

As a major U.S. company headquartered in Houston, our employees frequently fly to Washington. DC. Today. nonstop 

access to DCA is limited to service from George Bush intercontinental Airport (IAH), located 22 miles north from 

downtown Houston. From IAH, only one airline serves the Houston-OCA market. 

With its application, Southwest proposes to operate a new nonstop flight between DCA and Hobby, which is situated 12 

miles south of downtown Houston. A nonstop Hobby-DCA flight will not only be convenient for our team, it will create 

much needed competition in this important market and. with it, lower average ticket prices and improved service options 

for Houston-based travelers. 

Southwest has served Houston for over 41 years and is a strong partner in our community. Undoubtedly, a Southwestoperated Hobby-DCA flight will create significant consumer benefits for Greater Houston. For this reason. we 

respectfully ask the Department of Transportation to approve Southwest's application. 

Thank you, in advance, for your consideration of our organization's views in this important matter. 

Sincerely, 

Deb Russell 

USBLNll> Board Chair 

Dtlll !t\lSSill.l •• ll(lhl\\) CllAII\, IJSB\8<11 

MANAGER, OIV!lJ!.SifY & INJ..CUS!ON. Wi\l.CllE!lNS 

IQ2 Wll.M'OT ROAD. Ollfiilflll\t.O. II. 60015 

8H·315.6HZ 

DF.l!.I\USSI\\.I.@W 1\I.G llEE.NS.CO M 

Jill D. Houghton 

USBL~ Executive Director 

jlt.I. I!OUGH1'0N, t!XECUTIVI\ DIRECTOR 

US BUSINHSS l.!iAIH!l\SHIV NHTWO!lK •USIJI.N® 

1310 lli!ADOOCK Pl., STE 101. hl.liXANI)~IA. VA 42314 

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