THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590

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### Aprill6, 2012 0:**~~** 

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### The Honorable Michael M. Honda U.S. House ofReptesentatives Washington, DC 20515 DearCongressman Honda: Thank you for your letter supporting the application ofVirgin America, Inc., for four**beyond~** 

### perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan WashingtonNational Airport (DCA). Ifawarded those exemptions. Virgin Americawould 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 ofTransportation will be 

### awarding to new entrantor limited incumbent catriers a**~otal** 

### ofeight slot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips. Wereceived Virgin America's application on March**12~** 

### 2012. Othertimely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing oneround trip to Vanct>uver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, onetoun.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 roundtrip to Austin and San Diego beyond; and Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas. As the 

### matter is still pending, I cannotcomment onthe merits of

### the points .rai.sed in your letter. However, I can assure you 

### that all applications the Departmentrec:eived will be given full and fair consideration and will be 

### evaluated against the selection criteria specified in the statute. The Department's action onthis matter is b alloWs all interestedparties the opportu · placing a et>py ofyour letter and this Iappreciate 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., CA96008 PHONE: (40815511-8085 FAX: (408)5511-8086 

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The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation 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

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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 betweenDCA 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 beingmade to non-California airportswith the exceptionof

## a daily flight at Los Angeles. Previous DCA awards havebeen made to smaller markets, including: Denver (four roundtrip frequencies) and Phoenix (thtee roundtrip frequencies). 

### In terms ofpassenger traffic, San Francisco dwarfs these and all other beyond-perimeter markets. When making this critical decision, Iurge you to consider the positive impact ofimproving the connection betweenWashington D.C. and Silicon Valley's powerful innovation-based economy. Allocation oftwo 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 servicebetween the San Francisco.::,a Bay Area and DCA is long overdue. Ifyou have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to · contact me. Thankyou for your consideration. Sincerely,

Michael M. Honda Member ofCongress

S10-120330-012 Pllltm:D ON IIECYCU!D PAI'Ell