The Honorable JeffMerkley United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear SenatorMerkley: THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C, 20590

Apri110, 2012

Thankyou foryour letter, oosigned by your cottgressional colleagues, supportingthe application ofAlaska**Airlines~** Inc. for two beyond

..peri.meterslot exemptions atRonald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Alaska's application proposes to serve Portland International Airport with oneround trip per day from DCA. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, the 

### U.S. Department.ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slotexemptions atDCA, which would support four daily .round trips. We received Alaska's application, which also proposes one daily round trip to San Diego, on March 12. Othertimely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; FrontierAirlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and oneround trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin andSan Diego beyond; Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin Americat Inc., two round trips to San 

### Francisco. As the matter is still pending. I cannotcomment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, l can assure you that all applications the Departmentreceived will be given full and fair consideration and 

### will be evaluated against the selection criteria specified inthe statute. The Department's action on this JUatter is being ministered through apublic docket, which allows all interestedparties the opportunity t ent Following ournormal practice, Iam placing acopy ofyour letter and this respo docket number**DOT~2012-0** 9. Asimilarresponse bas been sent to eac urinterestinthis matter.

Ray LaHoodThe**Honorabl~** Ron Wyden United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear SenatorWyden: THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

April 10. 2012

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional**colleagues~** supporting the application ofAlaska Airlines, Inc. for two beyond-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Alaska's application proposes to serve Portland International Airport withone roundtrip per day from DCA. 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 supportfour daily round trips. We received Alaska's application, which also proposes one daily round trip to San Diego, on March 12. Othertimely applications were received from Air**Canad~** proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British COlumbia; FrontierAirlines) one roundtrip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and oneround trip to Austin, Texas; SouthwestAirlines, one round trip to Austin and San Diego beyond; Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas; and VirginAmerica, Inc., two r()und trips to San Francisco. As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised inyour letter.**However~** I can assure you that all applications the Department received wilt be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated againstthe selection criteria specified in the statute. TheDepartment's action onthis matter is being administered through apublic docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following ournormal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this res)?. se in docket number**DOT~2012-0029.** A similarresponse has been sent to 

### e yo:ur

### interestin. this matter.THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 2osgo

The Honorable Peter A. DeFazio U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, 

### DC 20515 Dear CongressmanDeFazio: AprillO, 2012

Thankyou for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the. application ofAlaskaAirlines1 Inc. for two beyond-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Alaska's application proposes to serve Portland International Airport with one round trip per day from DCA. Underauthority granted inthe .FAA Modernization and ReformAct of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slotexemptions at**DCA~** which would support four daily round trips. We received Alaska's application, which also proposes one daily round trip to San Diego, on March 12. Othertimely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing oneround trip to**Vancouver~** British Columbia; FrontierAirlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to SanDiego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin and San Diego beyond; Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips to San Francisco. As the matter is still pending, Icam1ot conunentonthe merits ofthe points raised.in yourletter. However, Ican assure you that all applications the Department received will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selectio.n criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action on this matteris being administered through apublic docket, which allows all interested. parties the oppo.rtunity to comment. Following ournormal practice, I am placing a copy ofyourletter and this response in docket number DOT-2012·0029. Asimilarresponse has been sentto each c matter.THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable Earl Blumenauer U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 DearCongressman Blumenauer: AprillO, 2012

Thank you for your letter, eosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofAlaskaAirlines, Inc. for two beyond-perin1eter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).**Alaska~s** application proposes to serve Portland International Airport with one round trip per day from DCA. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. DepartmentofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers a total ofeight slotexemptions at DCA, which would supportfour daily round trips. Wereceived Alaska's application, which also proposes one daily round tripto San**Diego~** on March 12. Other timely applications were rec.eived from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; FrontierAirlines, one roundtrip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip toAustin and San Diego beyond; Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las V e.gas; and VirginAmerica, Inc., two round. trips to San Francisco. As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised inyour letter. However, Ican assure you that all applications the Departmentreceived will be given full and 

### fair c()nsideration and will be evaluated againstthe 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 ournormal practice, I am placing acopy ofyour letter and this response in docket number**DOT~20**12-0029. Asimilar response has been sent to each matter.THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHIN<?ITON, D.C. 20590

The Honorable Kurt Schrader U.S. House**ofR~presentatives** Washington, DC 20515 DearCongressman Schrader: AprillO, 2012

Thank you for your**letter~** cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofAlaska Airlines, Inc. for two beyond-perimeter slotexemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Alaska's application proposes to .serve. Portland International Airport with one round trip perday from DCA. 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 Alaska's application, whichalso proposes one daily round trip to San Diego. on March 12. Othertimely applications were received ftom Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; FrontierAirlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to 

### San Juan, Puerto Rico, an.d oneround 

### trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin and San Diego beyond; Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips to San Francisco, As the matter is still pending, I cannot comn1ent onthe 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 onthis matter is being administered through a public docket, which allows all**inter~ted**parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, I am placing acopy ofyour letter and this response in docket number DOT-2012-0029. Asimilar response has been sentto eacJlAitlSifltner ofyour letter. J··Ar:\nf'f'•('••yourinterest in this matter.THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 205.90

The Honorable Greg Walden U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Walden: AprillO, 2012

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofAlaskaAirlines, lnc. for two beyond·perimeter slotexemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Alaska's application proposes to serve Portland International Airport with one round trip per day from DCA. Underauthority grauted in the FAA Modenmation and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awardingto new entrant or limited incumbent carriers

### a total ofeight slot exemptions at DCA, which would supportfour daily round trips. We received Alaska's application, which also proposes one daily round trip to San Diego, on March 12. Othertimely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; FrontierAirlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyondto San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin and San Diego beyond; Sun Country**Airlines~** one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips to San Francisco. As the 11Ultter is still pending. I cannot comment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, Icanassure you that aU applications the Departmentreceived will be given full and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selectiou criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action 011 this matteris being administered through apublic**docket~** which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our .normal practice, I am placing acopy ofyour letter and this response · ¢ket number DOT·2012-0029. As.imilarresponse has been sentto e ch co matter.THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATtON**WASHINGTON~** D.C. 20590

The Honorable Suzanne Bonamici U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman Bonamici: Apri110, 2012

Thankyou for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the application ofAlaska Airlines, Inc. for two beyond·perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Alaska's application proposes to serve Portland International Airport with one round trip perday from DCA. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slot exemptions atDCA, which would support four daily round trips. We received Alaska's**application~** which also proposes one daily round trip to San Diego, on March 12. Othertimely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing oneround trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; FrontierAirlines. one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; JetBiue Airlines, one round trip to San**J~** Puerto Rico, and one round trip to Austin, Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip toAustinand San Diego beyond; Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin Anleriea, Inc., two round trips to San Francisc.o. As the .matteris still pending, I cannot 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 selectioncriteria specified in the statute. The Departmenes action on this matter is being administered through .a public**docket~** which allows all interested parties the opportunity to conunent Following our normal practice, I am placing acopy 

### ofyour letter and this response in docket number DOT-2012-0029. Asimilarresponse has been sent to eac iate your interestin this matter.,_ 

## Qtnugress nf tlte**lltuite~ ~tales**  

### llufiington, ilQt 

### 20515

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary February 28, 2012



## u.s. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary LaHood: We are writing in support of the application submitted by Alaska Airlines, Inc., to secure two of th·e eight "beyond-perimeter slot" exemptions at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)

. Their application would provide a daily nonstop roundtrip flight between DCA and Portland International Airport (PDX), as provided by the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Oregon is notoriously underserved for air service into Washington, D.C. It is one of the most populated states without nonstop service to DCA, yet over 420 passengers fly between Oregon and the Washington, D.C., area in each direction every day. Today, nonstop service from Oregon is limited to a single United Airlines frequency into Washington Dulles (IAD)

. In order to fly in or out of DCA, Oregon residents have to make time consuming connections through Seattle, San Francisco, or through other circuitous points. Consequently, we actively.supported efforts to increase the number of beyond-perimeter exemptions permitted at DCA so new entrants and limited incumbent air carriers have the opportunity to provide direct flights from the west coast into DCA. Alaska Airlines is well-positioned to provide Oregonians with their first nonstop service into DCA. Alaska and its regional carrier, Horizon Air, have a substantial hub presence at PDX and currently operate.more than 90 flights per day to 33 destinations. They are highly regarded for their customer service, financial strength, and operational performance. We are pleased their proposed nonstop flight from PDX into DCA is the top priority in their application. Please give their application full and fair consideration.



# s10·120229-031 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPERN Sec. Ray LaHood February 28, 2012 Pa.ge 2 

### •.

# ~!·~·~ ·**~ley** · · United States Senator

Earl Blumenauer Member of Congress

# ·~~w.u.. Greg**Wald~** . Member of Congress**S10-12022~Ml31** Sincerely,

# ~IM,_t..'-' Ron Wyden , United States Senator

# ~~~c..· Suzanne Bonamici Member of Congress

Member of Congress