U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Donna Howard 

State of Texas 

House of Representatives 

P.O. Box 2910 

Austin, Texas 78768-2910 

Dear Representative Howard: 

Assistant Secretary 

April 20, 2012 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary of Transportation 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 of Transportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent 

carriers a total of eight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips. 

We received applications proposing to serve AUS from two carriers, Southwest Airlines and 

JetBlue Airways. Each sought two slot exemptions, which would support one daily DCA-AUS 

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, 

British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one round trip to Portland, Oregon, and one round trip to San 

Diego; Frontier Airlines, 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 matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits of the points raised in your letter. 

However, I can 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 a public docket, which 

allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, I am 

placing a copy of your letter and this response in docket number DOT -2012-0029. 

I appreciate your interest in this matter. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
March 20, 2012 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

DONNA HOWARD 

STATE REPRESENTATIVE 

DISTRICT 48 

This letter is submitted in support of establishing nonstop service between the Nation's capital 

from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to the Texas capital at AustinBergstrom Intemational 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, and safe, reliable nonstop air transportation will be 

vital to Austin's continued growth. Austin has been ranked as "America's No. 1 Boom Town" by 

Forbes magazine and was named as one of the "Top 10 American Cities of the Future" by fDi 

Intelligence. · 

Austin's unique blend of easy-going vibe 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 of 

technology and public policy thaf also attract and retain leading figures in business and 

academia. 

Consistent contributions to America's cultural, political, and intellectual life by Austin have 

helped many. Your award of the necessary slots for nonstop A US-DCA service will ensure these 

contributions continue. ...a 

Thank you for your consideration of Austin during this process. Please do not hesitate to contact 

me at 512-463-0631 ifl may provide any further assistance to you during this process. 

Sincerely, · · 

Donna 

~7~ Howard 

, TEXAS 78768-2910 • PHONE (512) 463·0631 • FAx (512) 463-0901 • DONN.·\.HOWARD(\!'HOUSE.STATE.Tx.us