U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Office of fhe Secrefary 

of Transportation 

Assistant Secretary 

January 22, 2013 

Dr. Laura G. Murillo 

President & CEO 

Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 

180 I Main Street, Suite 890 

Houston, TX 77002 

Dear Dr. Murillo: 

1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Thank you for your Jetter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, supporting the application 

of Southwest Airlines (Southwest) for two within~perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan 

Washington National Airport (DCA). Southwest proposes to serve Houston's William P. Hobby 

Airport with one nonstop round trip per day from DCA. Secretary LaHood asked that I respond 

to you on his behalf. 

We received Southwest's application on December 5, 2012. Other timely applications were 

received from JetBlue Airways, proposing one nonstop round trip to Jacksonville International 

Airport, Florida, and from US Airways, proposing one nonstop round trip to Will Rogers World 

Airport in Oklahoma City. 

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 received by the U.S. Department of 

Transportation will be given due and careful consideration. 

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-OST-2000-7182. 

1 appreciate your interest in this matter. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
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DR. LAL:RA G. i\IURILLO 

HOUSTON HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

The Leader of Houston's New Majority® 

December 7, 2012 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey A venue, S. E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Docket No. DOT-OST-2000-7182 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

In the interest of promoting airline competition, affordable airfares and greater access 

between the Nation's Capital and Greater Houston, I respectfully request the Department of 

Transportation to approve Southwest Airlines' (Southwest's) application for two slot 

exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Southw~st proposes to 

use these slot exemption to begin daily nonstop service between DCA and Houston .Hobby 

Airport (Hobby). Today. there is no scheduled air service betweenDCA and Hobby. 

The Houston-DCA market is underserved and overpriced. As the Nation's largest 

low-cost airline, Southwest is well suited to provide significant consumer benefits in this 

important market. Since 1971, Southwest has a proven track record of lowering ticket prices 

and stimulating more passenger traffic in the markets it enters. 

Through new competition, lower airfares, and the use of a 143-seat aircraft, 

Southwest's proposed serv.ice is projected to attract tens-of-thousand of new passengers and 

generate millions of dollars of consumer benefits annually in the DCA-Houston market. 

Business and leisure travelers stand to benefit if Southwest is able to bring low-fare 

competition to the Houston-DCA inarket. 

Again, I respectfully request that the Department of Transportation approve 

Southwest's application for two slot exemptions at DCA. Thank you in advance for your 

consideration of this important matter. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Laura G, Murillo 

President & CEO 

cc: Gilbert A. Herrera, Chaitman 

"The llouston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a tax exempt organit.ation under Section 501 (c)(6) of the Internal Rev.cnue Code. i::ontributions 

.or gifts to the IUICC art' not tax drductiblc as charitable contributions for Federal income tax purJlOSes. However, a portion of your payment to 

the I II ICC may be deductible as an ordinary and necessary business e~Jlense. Please consult yonr own tax ndvisor with respect to your elij!ibility 

to take such deductions.~ 

180 I Main Street, Suite 890 Houston, 1X 77002 Tel:( 713) 6-14-7070 Fax: (713) 644-7 3 77 11'11'11'. houstonhispanicclwmber.com 

S10-121221-002 
IIOUSTON HISPANiCCHAMBER OF COMMr:.R<:E 

11re uader of JJouston :, ,'\·cw ,lttdnrlt;·• 

/.'WI Main Strect. Suite H90 

lloitS/1111, Te:ws 770111 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590