800 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20591 

August 28, 2012 Exemption No. 8112F 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2003-14563 

Bob Jordan 

President of AirTran Airways, Inc. 

9955 AirTran Blvd. 

Orlando, FL 32827 

Robert W. Kneisley 

Associate General Counsel of Southwest Airlines Co. 

1901 L Street, N.W. Suite 640 

Washington, DC 20036 

Dear Messrs. Jordan and Kneisley: 

This letter is to inform you that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted your 

petition to amend Exemption No. 8112, as amended, subject to the revised limitations 

expressed in this document. It explains the basis for the decision and describes its effect. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated July 24, 2012, you petitioned the FAA on behalf of AirTran Airways, Inc. 

(AirTran), for an amendment of Exemption No. 8112, as amended. That exemption from 14 

C.F.R. § 93.123 allocated to AirTran three exemption slots to conduct scheduled operations 

at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The amendment request would 

allow AirTran and/or Southwest Airlines Co. (Southwest) to continue to operate the slot 

exemption at the current FAA-approved times: 0800 (slot ID 1648), 1100 (slot ID 1194), 

and 1600 (slot ID 1531). 

This administrative change does not affect the findings of public interest and safety that 

were the basis for granting the original exemption and most recent extension. 

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested administrative amendment would not set a 

precedent. 
2

Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 8112, as 

amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. The 

exemption remains in effect through September 30, 2017. If AirTran elects to seek a further 

extension of the exemption, it should submit its petition, along with the reasons why the 

extension is in the public interest, on or before March 30, 2017. The FAA will publish that 

request for public comment to ensure full consideration of the public interest. 

Therefore, under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. §§ 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the amended conditions 

and limitations listed below. The FAA amends paragraph 2 to modify the slot times, as 

requested, to those currently approved by the FAA Slot Administration Office. This 

amendment does not negatively impact operational efficiency at DCA. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. A maximum of three total daily operations may be conducted under this exemption. 

2. Operations authorized by this grant of exemption may be conducted only in the 

following local hours: 0800, 1100, and 1600. The FAA may adjust the time period 

of each operation if necessary for air traffic control or other operational purposes. 

3. This exemption authorizes operations by only AirTran and/or Southwest, and no 

other carrier. 

4. AirTran and/or Southwest must contact the FAA Slot Administration Office to 

confirm the scheduled operations and their frequencies under this exemption. 

5. This exemption will be rescinded if AirTran and/or Southwest discontinue scheduled 

operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 

6. The operations authorized under this exemption are not part of the pool of permanent 

slots at the airport. However these operations, while in effect, are subject to the 

provisions of 14 CFR part 93, subparts K and S, including the slot usage 

requirement, except that the authority may not be sold, leased, or otherwise 

transferred. 

7. This letter must be attached to, and is part of, exemption number 8112. 
3

The Effect of Our Decision 

The termination date of Exemption No. 8112, as amended, remains September 30, 2017, 

unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

Kathryn B. Thomson 

Chief Counsel