U.s. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Kelly Kirschner 

Mayor of Sarasota 

Sarasota City Commission Office 

1565 First Street 

Sarasota, FL 34236 

Dear Mayor Kirschner: 

ASSlsUw,t Secretary 

OCT 252010 

: :coo New Jersey Ave" S E 

'/,asf'lngton, DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter of October 6 to Secretary LaHood supporting AirTran Airways, 

Inc. (AirTran) to serve Sarasota, Florida, in the ongoing slot-exemption proceeding at 

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The Secretary has asked that I 

respond to your letter directly. 

As you know, the U.S. Department of Transportation commenced a proceeding on 

August 30 to reallocate two DCA slot exemptions that are currently being used by 

Republic Airline, Inc. (Republic). Republic has been using these two slot exemptions for 

DCA - Kansas City service. These slot exemptions may be used to serve any medium 

hub or smaller airport within the 1,250-mile perimeter of DCA. 

We have received a total of five proposals, briefly outlined below: 

• Sun Country to serve Lansing, Michigan, with 129- or 162-seat aircraft; 

• Republic Airline, Inc., branded as Frontier Airlines, to continue to serve Kansas 

City, Missouri, with 99-seat regional jet aircraft; 

• Southwest Airlines Co., to serve Kansas City utilizing 137-seat aircraft; 

• US Airways, Inc., to serve Pensacola, Florida, utilizing 76- or 86-seat regional jet 

aircraft, depending on the season; and 

• Air Tran Airways, Inc., to serve either Fort Myers or Sarasota, Florida, utilizing 

either 117- or 137 -seat aircraft. 

As the slot exemption proceeding is competitive and is currently under review by the 

Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the merits of the 

proposals. I assure you, however, that the Department will fully consider all of the 

proposals, and make its award based on the selection criteria detailed in the governing 

statutes. 
The Honorable Kelly Kirschner 

Page 2 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in Docket 

DOT -OST -2000-7182 as a contact outside the record of this proceeding. I appreciate 

your interest in obtaining access to the Nation's capital. If I can provide further 

information or assistance, please feel free to call me. 

,.v:,usan L. Kur and 

Assistant Secretary for 

A viation and International Affairs 
u.s. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

Mr. Fredd "Glossie" Atkins 

Vice Mayor 

Sarasota City Commission Office 

1565 First Street 

Sarasota, FL 34236 

Dear Mr. Atkins: 

ASSIst3nt SecreWrv 

OCT 2 5 2010 

iZCG New Jersey Avt.?, S E, 

'/;ash,n,]ton, CC 20~90 

Thank you for your letter of October 6 to Secretary LaHood supporting AirTran Airways, 

Inc. (AirTran) to serve Sarasota, Florida, in the ongoing slot-exemption proceeding at 

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The Secretary has asked that I 

respond to your letter directly. 

As you know, the U.S. Department of Transportation commenced a proceeding on 

August 30 to reallocate two DCA slot exemptions that are currently being used by 

Republic Airline, Inc. (Republic). Republic has been using these two slot exemptions for 

DCA - Kansas City service. These slot exemptions may be used to serve any medium 

hub or smaller airport within the 1,250-mile perimeter of DCA. 

We have received a total of five proposals, briefly outlined below: 

• Sun Country to serve Lansing, Michigan, with 129- or 162-seat aircraft; 

• Republic Airline, Inc., branded as Frontier Airlines, to continue to serve Kansas 

City, Missouri, with 99-seat regional jet aircraft; 

• Southwest Airlines Co., to serve Kansas City utilizing 137-seat aircraft; 

• US Airways, Inc., to serve Pensacola, Florida, utilizing 76- or 86-seat regional jet 

aircraft, depending on the season; and 

• Air Tran Airways, Inc., to serve either Fort Myers or Sarasota, Florida, utilizing 

either 117- or 137 -seat aircraft. 

As the slot exemption proceeding is competitive and is currently under review by the 

Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the merits of the 

proposals. I assure you, however, that the Department will fully consider all of the 

proposals, and make its award based on the selection criteria detailed in the governing 

statutes. 
Mr. Fredd "Glossie" Atkins 

Page 2 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in Docket 

DOT -OST -2000-7182 as a contact outside the record of this proceeding. I appreciate 

your interest in obtaining access to the Nation's capital. If I can provide further 

information or assistance. please feel free to call me. 
U.s. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

Mr. Richard Clapp 

Commissioner - District 2 

Sarasota City Commission Office 

1565 First Street 

Sarasota, FL 34236 

Dear Mr. Clapp: 

ASSlstclilt Secretary 

OCT 252010 

1200 New Jersey Ave S E 

'iidsrlngton, DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter of October 6 to Secretary LaHood supporting AirTran Airways, 

Inc. (AirTran) to serve Sarasota, Florida, in the ongoing slot-exemption proceeding at 

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The Secretary has asked that I 

respond to your letter directly. 

As you know, the U.S. Department of Transportation commenced a proceeding on 

August 30 to reallocate two DCA slot exemptions that are currently being used by 

Republic Airline, Inc. (Republic). Republic has been using these two slot exemptions for 

DCA - Kansas City service. These slot exemptions may be used to serve any medium 

hub or smaller airport within the 1,250-mile perimeter of DCA. 

We have received a total of five proposals, briefly outlined below: 

• Sun Country to serve Lansing, Michigan, with 129- or 162-seat aircraft; 

• Republic Airline, Inc., branded as Frontier Airlines, to continue to serve Kansas 

City, Missouri, with 99-seat regional jet aircraft; 

• Southwest Airlines Co., to serve Kansas City utilizing 137-seat aircraft; 

• US Airways, Inc., to serve Pensacola, Florida, utilizing 76- or 86-seat regional jet 

aircraft, depending on the season; and 

• Air Tran Airways, Inc., to serve either Fort Myers or Sarasota, Florida, utilizing 

either 117- or 137-seat aircraft. 

As the slot exemption proceeding is competitive and is currently under review by the 

Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the merits of the 

proposals. I assure you, however, that the Department will fully consider all of the 

proposals, and make its award based on the selection criteria detailed in the governing 

statutes. 
Mr. Richard Clapp 

Page 2 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in Docket 

DOT -OST -2000-7182 as a contact outside the record of this proceeding. I appreciate 

your interest in obtaining access to the Nation's capital. If I can provide further 

information or assistance, please feel free to call me. 
October 6, 2010 

The Honorable Ray H. LaHood 

S,ecretary of Transportation 

U:S: Dep8rtirient '-Of T rangpOiitation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: DotketOST-1OOO-7182' :". 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

S I (I-I (J I () 15-(J2~ 

We are writing to express our support for the application of AirTran Airways Inc. for the two available Ronald 

Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) within-perimeter slots being allocated by the Department in 

Docket OST-2000-7182 to provide nonstop service from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) to 

OCA. 

The Sarasota Bradenton area has only one· daily nonstop·.on a reg4ooll1 jet to Washington, DC, even though it is 

the sixth largest destination market from this area. With over 750,000 residents and our prime location as a 

leisure destination for tourists, SRQ can certainly support additional service and it would be a great help to the 

tourism industry in this region, which suffered a significant impact from the BP oil spill. This new service 

wouldalso mitigate the negative economic impact the recession has had on the community and the airport. 

whil~AirTranalso offers an alternative to award the route to Southwest Florida International (RSW). we ask 

that thl>slotbe awarded to Airtran conditioned on the slot be utilized for SRQ. In addition to enhancing 

competition and lowering fares at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, the proposed service would increase 

connectivity to destinations in the Northeast and Midwest, critical markets for our region. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely, 

.:' J. 

•• "j'£" ! " ;. 

" ' , " 

., Kelly Kirschner', " 

Mayor . d 

." . ~ ,,' Saraspta City Commission ·Office· 

1565 First Street, Sarasota, Florida 34236 

Telephone: 941-954-4 J 15 Fax: 94 J -954-4129 

.: :' 
October 6, 20 I 0 

The Honorable Ray H. laHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Docket OST-2000-7182 

Dear Secretary laHood: 

S \ 0-\ () \ () 15-02~ 

We are writing to express our support for the application of AirTran Airways Inc. for the two available Ronald 

Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) within-perimeter slots being allocated by the Department in 

Docket OST-2000-7182 to provide nonstop service from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) to 

DCA. 

The Sarasota Bradenton area has only one daily nonstop on a regional jet to Washington, DC, even though it is 

the sixth largest destination market from this area. With over 750,000 residents and our prime location as a 

leisure destination for tourists, SRQ can certainly support additional service and it would be a great help to the 

tourism industry in this region, which suffered a significant impact from the BP oil spill. This new service 

would also mitigate the negative economic impact the recession has had on the community and the airport. 

While AirTran also offers an alternative to award the route to Southwest Florida International (RSW), we ask 

that the slot be awarded to Airtran conditioned on the slot be utilized for SRQ. In addition to enhancing 

competition and lowering fares at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, the proposed service would increase 

connectivity to destinations in the Northeast and Midwest, critical markets for our region. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Best regards, 

Fredd "Glossie" Atkins 

Vice Mayor 

Sarasota City Commission Office 

1565 First Street, Sarasota, Florida 34236 

Telephone: 941-954-4115 Fax: 941-954-4129 
October 6, 2010 

The Honomble Ray H. LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Docket OST-2000-7182 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

S I 0-1 () I () 15-()~X 

We are writing to express our support for the application of AirTran Airways Inc. for the two available Ronald 

Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) within-perimeter slots being allocated by the Department in 

Docket OST-2000-7182 to provide nonstop service from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) to 

DCA. 

The Sarasota Bradenton area has only one daily nonstop on a regional jet to Washington, DC, even though it is 

the sixth largest destination market from this area. With over 750,000 residents and our prime location as a 

leisure destination for tourists, SRQ can certainly support additional service and it would be a great help to the 

tourism industry in this region. which suffered a significant impact from the BP oil spill. This new service 

would also mitigate the negative economic impact the recession has had on the community and the airport. 

While AirTran also offers an alternative to award the route to Southwest Florida International (RSW), we ask 

that the slot be awarded to Airtran conditioned on the slot be utilized for SRQ. In addition to enhancing 

competition and lowering fares at Samsota Bradenton International Airport, the proposed service would increase 

connectivity to destinations in the Northeast and Midwest, critical markets for our region. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Best regards, 

(2tt~/6?~ 

Richard Clapp 

Commissioner - District 2 

Sarasota City Commission Office 

1565 First Street, Sarasota, Florida 34236 

Telephone: 941-954-4115 Fax: 941-954-4129