BEFOR E TH E DEPARTMEN TO F TRANSPORTATIO N

WASHINGTON , D.C .

I n th e Matte rof : FOR M 4 1 AIRFRAM E AN D AIRCRAF TENGIN E FINANCIA L DAT AREPORTIN G Docke tOST-96-164 0

MOTIO N O F SOUTHWES TAIRLINE S CO . T O WITHHOL D FRO M PUBLI C DISCLOSUR E Communication s wit h respec tt o thi s documen tshoul d b e sen tto : Lesli e 0 . Abbot t Attorne y SOUTHWES TAIRLINE S CO . 190 1 LStreet , N.W . Suit e 640 Washington , D.C . 2003 6 (202 ) 263-628 5 leslie.abbott@wnco.co m

Februarys , 201 0BEFOR E TH E DEPARTMEN TO F TRANSPORTATIO N

WASHINGTON , D.C . I n th e Matte rof : FOR M 4 1 AIRFRAM E AN D AIRCRAF TENGIN E FINANCIA L DAT AREPORTIN G Docke tOST-96-164 0

MOTIO N O F SOUTHWES TAIRLINE S CO . T O WITHHOL D FRO M PUBLI C DISCLOSUR E Pursuan tt o Rul e 1 2 o fth e Department' s Rule s o fPractic e (1 4 C.F.R . § 302.12) , SouthwestAirline s Co . ("Southwest" ) hereb yfile s thi s Motio n t o Withhol d fro m Publi c Disclosur e th e informatio n an d dat a incorporate d withi n th e accompanyin g seale d envelop e captione d For m 41 , Schedul e B- 7 Airfram e an d Aircraf tEngin e Acquisition s an d Retirements . Thi s informatio n an d dat a ar e bein g reporte d t o th e Departmen t i n accordanc e wit h th e requirement s o f1 4 C.F.R . Part24 1 wit h respec tt o th e fourt h quarte ro f2009 . Th e materia l fo rwhic h confidentialit yi s sough tinclude s Southwest' s acquisitio n cost s an d relate d financia l informatio n wit h respec t t o airframes , aircraft , an d aircraf t engines . Thi s informatio n mayproperl yb e withhel d fro m publi cdisclosur e unde r Exemptio n 4 o fth e Freedo m o fInformatio n Act , 5 U.S.C . § 552(b)(4) , whic h permit s protectio n fro m disclosur e fo r"trad e secret s an d commercia l o rfinancia l informatio n obtaine d fro m a perso n an d privilege d o rconfidential. " See , e.g. . Gul f& Wester n Industries . Inc . v . Unite d States . 61 5 F.2 d 52 7 (D.C . Cir . 1979) ; Critica l Mas s Enerq v ProjectV. NRC . 97 5 F.2 d 87 1 (D.C . Cir . 1992) .Thre e element s mus tb e satisfie d i n orde rt o protec tinformatio n fro m publi c

disclosur e unde r5 U.S.C . § 552(b)(4) . Th e informatio n mus tbe : (1 ) financia l o r commercia l i n nature , (2 ) obtaine d fro m a perso n outsid e th e government , an d (3 ) confidentia l o rprivileged . Gul fan d Wester n Industries , supra . 61 5 F.2 d a t 529 . Informatio n wil l b e deeme d "confidential " if , inte ralia , publi cdisclosur e i s likel yt o caus e substantia l har m t o th e competitiv e positio n o fth e submittin g party . Se e Nationa l Parks & Conservatio n Ass' n v . Morton . 49 8 F.2 d 76 5 (D.C . Cir . 1974) ; Critica l Mass . supra . 97 5 F.2 d a t879 . Th e informatio n whic h Southwes tseek s t o protec tfro m publi cdisclosur e satisfie s thes e thre e elements . Th e acquisitio n cos tan d financia l dat a tha tSouthwes ti s reportin g t o DO Tresult s fro m negotiation s betwee n Southwes tan d commercia l vendor s o faircraft , aircraf tengine s an d relate d components . Thes e price s an d term s ar e clearl y "financia l o rcommercia l i n nature. " Further , becaus e thes e price s an d term s ar e establishe d entirel ythroug h negotiation s betwee n Southwes tan d it s commercia l suppliers , th e informatio n i s obtaine d "fro m a perso n outsid e th e government. " Non e o f thi s informatio n i s provide d b yan ygovernmenta l agenc yo rofficial . Finally , thi s financia l informatio n woul d no tnormall yb e mad e publi cb ySouthwes to rit s negotiatin g partner s sinc e publi cdisclosur e woul d caus e substantia l competitiv e har m t o Southwest . Confidentia l treatmen to fthi s commerciall ysensitiv e informatio n i s particularl yappropriat e i n ligh to fSouthwest' s purchas e agreement s wit h it s vendors . Suc h agreement s customaril ycontai n languag e requirin g tha t Southwes tmaintai n th e confidentialit yo fcertai n materia l terms , includin g acquisitio n costs . Therefore , th e releas e o fsuc h informatio n woul d significantl yhinde rSouthwest' s abilit yt o negotiat e favorabl e cost s an d term s fro m commercia l vendor s o fairframes , aircraf tan d aircraf t engines .WHEREFORE , Southwes thereb yrequest s tha tconfidentia l treatmen tb e give n

t o al l informatio n i tfile s wit h th e Departmen tunde rFor m 41 , Schedul e B-7 , includin g thi s Schedul e B- 7 filin g pertainin g t o th e fourt h quarte ro f2009 . Respectfull ysubmitted . 

# li^itt . Lesli e C . Abbot t Attorne y SOUTHWES TAIRLINE S C O 190 1 LStreet , N.W . Suit e 640 Washington , D.C . 2003 6 202-263-628 5

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