MARIA CANTWELL WASHINGTON

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary 

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### DC 20510-4705

June 8, 2012

United States Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington. DC 20590 COMMmtES: COMMERCE,**SCIE~.JCE,** AN;)

TllANSPORTATION ENERGY AND NATURAL

RESOURCES FINANCE INDIAN !-FFAfR5 SM•\I.LBUSINF.SS

RE: Walla Walla Regional Airport: FY 12 Small Community Air Service Development Program

Dear Secretary LaHood,

I am writing to express my support for the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant application submitted by the Port ofWalla Walla, the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, Tourism Walla Walla, and the Walla Walla Chamber ofCommerce. Tite application will help implement a new Walla Walla Airport Coalition Marketing Plan designed to ensure continued passenger growth on inbound and outbound Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air) flights to Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW). A federal commitment will be matched with $50,000 in local funds.
Typically, Walla Walla Regional Airport is served 

### by two inbound and two outbound Alaska Airlines flights per day, with more than 32,000 total hoardings in 2011. Passenger numbers and load factors in the first quarter of2012 indicate that total hoardings for 2012 may surpass 2011 levels. That said, load factors are not yet sufficiently high to ensure long-term continued service from Alaska Airlines- the only scheduled carrier currently flying into and out ofALW. Alaska Airlines has indicated that unless load factors are raised, it will be forced to seriously consider discontinuing scheduled service to ALW.

Walla Walla, Washington is geographically located near the cities ofMilton-.Freewater and Pendleton, Oregon, two additional population centers that are currently underserved by scheduled aviation service. ALW is the closest airport to both ofthcse cities and a federal investment designed to enhance air service at ALW, such as that which would be provided by a successful award from the Small Community Air Service Development Program, will benefit residents of both northeast Oregon and southeast Washington.

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