THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 .. 

Aprill6, 2012 0: ~~ 0 I ,,, 

The Honorable Michael M. Honda 

U.S. House ofReptesentatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Honda: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the application of Virgin America, Inc., for four beyond~ 

perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). If awarded 

those exemptions. Virgin America would provide two :daily round-trip flights from DCA to 

San Francisco. 

Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization atld Reform Act of2012, the 

U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent 

catriers a ~otal of eight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips. 

We received Virgin America's application on March 12~ 2012. Other timely applications were 

received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vanct>uver, British Columbia; Alaska 

Airlines, one toun.d trip to Portland, Oregon, and one .round trip to San Diego; Frontier Airlines, 

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; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to 

Austin and San Diego beyond; and Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas. 

As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits of the points .rai.sed in your letter. 

However, I can assure you that all applications the Department rec:eived 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 b 

alloWs all interested parties the opportu · 

placing a et>py of your letter and this 

I appreciate your interest in this 

dministered through a public docket, which 

mment. Following our al practieet I am 

in docket number DOT -0029. 
MICHAEL M. HONDA 

"15-m DISTRICT, CAUFOANIA 

WASHINGTON OFFICE: 

1713 LoNGWO!Illl ~pUSE 0PI'ICE BUILDING 

WASHINGTON, DC 2051 G 

PHONE: (202) 225-2631 

FAx: (202) 225-2699 hnp-Jtwww.hondo.hnuaa.ot~~~ 

DISTRICT OFFICE: 

199& SoiJI'H BAscoM Avi!NuE 

Sum;IIB15 

CI\MPDEU., CA 96008 

PHONE: (40815511-8085 

FAX: (408)5511-8086 

€:ongress of tbt 'mntt~b ~tates 

J>oust ot ~eptt~tntatibess 

GIUIOV fi&SIOINTS:(888) 843-JI715 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

March 22, 2012 

COMMJn'EE ON APPROPRIATIONS 

SuoC:OMMrm~s: 

COMMtiRCE, JUSTICE, ANO SCIENCE 

I.EGSSLATIVE BAANCI~ /lANKfNG MEMDI!II 

COMMITTEE ON TtiE BUDGET 

Sli.NIOI\ MAJOOITV WHIP 

CONGA£SSIONAI. ASIAN PACifiC 

AMS~ICAN CAUCUS, ClwR EMERmiS 

CoNGRESSIONAI.-EXEC\ITM! 

CoMMISSION ON CHINA 

Re: Docket No. OST -2012--0029. Application of Virgin America Inc. for "BeyondPerimeter" Slots 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

I am writing to express my strong support for Virgin America's proposal to provide two 

nonstop flights between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Reagan National Airport 

(DCA). 

As you ar~: awflre, the recently signed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012 

included a provision authorizing you to award new flights between DCA and domestic airports located 

beyond the. c.~#~(j,~$q,"Iliil~ perimeter limit. Historically, the Bay Area has been shut out from DCA 

nonstop senii~e/~ifli'all:"~eyond-perimeter" flight awards being made to non-California airportswith the exception of a daily flight at Los Angeles. Previous DCA awards have been made to smaller 

markets, including: Denver (four roundtrip frequencies) and Phoenix (thtee roundtrip frequencies). In 

terms of passenger traffic, San Francisco dwarfs these and all other beyond-perimeter markets. 

When making this critical decision, I urge you to consider the positive impact of improving the 

connection between Washington D.C. and Silicon Valley's powerful innovation-based economy. 

Allocation of two round-1rlp flights to the San Francisco Bay Area will provide efficient, modem and 

low-fare nonstop flight service to DCA. 

Thank you in advance for considering this request. Nonstop service between the San Francisco.::,a 

Bay Area and DCA is long overdue. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to · 

contact me. Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely, 

Michael M. Honda 

Member of Congress 

S10-120330-012 

Pllltm:D ON IIECYCU!D PAI'Ell