U.S. Department ofTransportation Office of the Secretary ofTransportation

The Honorable JeffWentworth Texas State Senator P.O. Box 12068 Austin, TX 78711
DearMr. Wentworth: Assistant Secretary

April 12 11 2012

Thankyou for your letterto Secretary ofTransportation Ray LaHood, supporting the award of beyond-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 your letter.
Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant orlimited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips.
We received applications proposing to serve AUS from two carriers, SouthwestAirlines and JetBiue Airways. Each soughttwo slot exemptions, which would support one daily DCA-A US round trip; JetBlue also applied for two slot exemptions to serve San Juan, Puerto Rico. Other timely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, BritishColumbia; Alaska Airlines, one round trip to Portland, Oregon, and one round trip to San Diego; FrontierAirlines, 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 comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, Ican assure you that all applications the Department received 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 interestedparties the opportunity to comment. Following ournormal practice, Iam placing acopy ofyour letter and this response in docket number DOT-2012-0029.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Sincerely yours,

SusanL. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs,J/j-i.t. "ii • ..-SENATORJEFFWENTWORTH CHAIRM.AN SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE 2008.2009 SBNATE DISTRICT 25
AUSTIN

Capitol Building, Room 1E.9 P. 0. Box 12068 Austin,Texas 78711 (512) 463-0125 PRESIDENT PROTEM OFTHETEXAS SENATE 2004.2005 COMMITTEES Toll-Free (888) 824-6984 FAX (512) 463-7794 Dial 711 for Relay Calls
INTERNETE·MAlL

jeff.wentwortb@senate.state.tx.us
SAN ANTONIO

1250 N. E. Loop410, Suite 925 SanAntonio, Texas 78209 (210) 826-7800 FAX (210) 826-0571

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March 16, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary: Select Committee on Open Government, Chairman Administration HigherEducation Intergovernmental ReL"ltions Re<Ustricting Transportation andHomeland Security
COUNTIESIN SENATEDISTRICT 25 Bexar (north) Co

mal Guadidupe Hays Kendall Travis (soutll)



### This letter is submitted in support ofnonstop service between the Nation's capital from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to the Texas capital at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).
Austin is the 14th largest- and the third fastest-growing- city in the United States with an MSA population of 1.8 million. This is a 37 percent increase since 2000. Moreover, this population is

### projected to reach 2 million in

### just three years.
AUS has grown right along with the city. Clean, safe, reliable nonstop airtransportation is vital to Austin's continued growth. Austin has been ranked as "America's No. 1Boom Town" by Forbes magazine. It

### has been named as one ofthe "Top 10 American Cities ofthe Future" by 

### tDi Intelligence.
Austin's unique blend ofeasy-going attitude and energetic capitalism has attracted residents and visitors from across the country and around the world. While the SXSW and ACL musical festivals and other entertainment events draw an ever-increasing number ofleisure visitors, the SXSW Interactive Conference and leading research institutions examine pressing issues oftechnology and public policy that also attract and retain leading figures in business and academia.

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### The Honorable Ray LaHood March 16, 2012 Page Two
Consistent contributions to America's cultural, political, and intellectual life by Austin have helped many. Your award ofthe necessary slots for nonstop A US-DCA service will ensure these contributions continue.
Thank you for your consideration ofAustin during this process. Please contact me ifI may provide any further assistance to you during this process.

# ~~ JeffWentworth
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