THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

The Honorable Jobn Cornyn 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Cornyn: 

April19, 2012 

Thank you for your letter supporting the application of Southwest Airlines.for two beyondperimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Southwest's 

application propo$es to serve Austin~ Bergstrom International Airport with one round trip per day 

from DCA 

Under authority granted in the F M Modernization and Reform Act of20 12, 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 Southwest's application on March 12. Other timely applications were reci!!ived 

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 Airlinest one round trip 

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; Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las 

Vegas; and Virgin America, lnc.t two round trips to San Francisco. 

As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits ofthe 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 bein administered through a public docket, Which 

allows all interested parties the opportuni · omment. Following our normal practice, I am 

placing a copy of your letter and this r in docket number DOT·2012 9. 

I appreciate your interest in 

Ray LaHood 
-.· JOHI\l.CORNYN 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Docket DOT -OST -2012-0029 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510-4305 

March 22, 2012 

As a Senator who represents millions of Texans who live beyond Ronald Reagan Washington National 

Airport's (DCA) 1,250-mile perimeter, I believe the additional slot exemptions included in the FAA 

Modernization and Reform Act of2012 (P.L. 112-95) represent a positive step towards free and open 

competition. I write to express my strong support for the application of Southwest Airlines to provide 

nonstop service between DCA and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). 

Over Southwest's many years serving the Austin market, its network has grown and today includes 52 

daily nonstop flights to 19 cities. Led by its vibrant high-tech industry, Austin is home to dozens of 

corporate headquarters and trade associations, many of which have regular business before the federal 

government. The Austin area has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, adding 286,000 

residents between 2004 and 2009. This growth is driven by an expanding job base, with 37,900 jobs 

added between 2006 and 2011, and a thriving climate for small-businesses. 

With approximately 77,000 origin and destination passengers traveling between Austin and DCA 

annually, Austin is the fourth largest beyond-perimeter market without nonstop DCA service today. 

Significantly, Austin-DCA is the most over-priced of the top ten largest beyond-perimeter markets 

without existing nonstop service. Increased competition will lead to lower fares in this market, 

benefitting Texas travelers and businesses. Therefore, an Austin-DCA route will ensure that these slot 

exemptions arc put to the highest and best use and that the public benefits are maximized to the greatest 

extent possible. 

Given the extensive benefits of the proposed route, I urge the Department to grant Southwest's 

application for nonstop service between ABIA and DCA. Such service is long overdue and would 

provide significant competitive and economic benefits to the Austin metropolitan area. Thank you for 

your consideration of my views in this matter. 

United States Senator