THE SECRETARYOt= TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590



### The Honorable Neil 

### Abercrombie Governor ofHawaii Honolulu, HI 96813 

### Dear Governor Abercrombie: April 16,2012



### Thankyou foryour letter supportingthe application ofAlaska Airlines,**Inc~,** 

### fortwo beyondperimeter slotexemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport(DCA). Ifawarded these exemptions, Alaskawould serve San.Diego InternationalAirport with one round trip 

### per day from DCA, with direct service beyond to Honolu1u. Underauthority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act o.f2012,

### the U.S. DepartmentofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeight slotexemptions atDCA, which would supportfour.daily roundtrips. We received Alaska's application, which also proposes one daily round trip to Portland. Oregon, onMarch 12. 

### Othertimely applications were r¢ceivedfrom Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; FrontierAirlines, one ro\,lnd trip to Colorado Springs and beyondto San Diego; JetBlue 

### Airlines, one roundtrip toSanJuan, Puerto Rico" and one r.ound trip to**Austin~** 

### Texas; Southwest Airlines, oneround trip to Austin and SanDiego beyond; Sun Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin America, Inc., two roundtrips.to 

### San Francisco. As the matteris still pending, I cannot comment onthe merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, Ican assure youthat all applications the Departmentreceived will be givenfull and fair consideration and will be evaluated againstthe selection criteria specifiedin the statute. The Department's action on this matter i$ 

### being administered through apublic docket, which allows all interested parties the 

### opportunityto comment. Follqwing ournormal practice-, I am 

### placing

## acopy ofyour letter 

### and this res ein .docketnumberDOT
..201 

### 9. I appreciate y<>urinterestinthis 

### maEXECUTIVE CHAMBERS

NEILABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR
The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Secretary LaHood: HONOLULU

March 22, 2012

I am writing in strong support ofAlaska Airlines' application to provide daily nonstop service between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Alaska Airlines' proposal is to enhance nonstop service from SAN to DCA by originating and terminating flights at Honolulu International Airport (HNL). This will provide residents and visitors to the State of Hawai'i with a convenient connection to our nation's capital. As a former U.S. Representative for Hawai'i's First Congressional District, and having to travel from Washington, D.C. to Hawai'i throughout 20+ years of service, I can appreciate the added alternatives and benefits that an Alaska Airlines' DCA-SAN-HNL flight might provide for many people living in and visiting Hawai'i. I understand thatthere are 352,000 passengers thattravel annually between San Diego and Washington, D.C. In addition, there are more than 123,000 annual passengers that travel between Hawai'i and Washington, D.C., who utilize single or double connecting flights. Alaska Airlines' proposal to provide a San Diego to Washington, D.C. route, originating and terminating in Honolulu, would fulfill a significant need for travelers from**.:.~** San Diego and Honolulu going to Washington, D.C. Alaska Airlines has clearly made a commitment to the Aloha State and, as such, is well positioned to operate a DCA-SAN-HNL flight. Also, Alaska Airlines was one of only a few carriers that passed the tax savings onto its customers during last summer's partial shutdown ofthe FAA and lapse in federal air transportation taxes. That decision is a testament to Alaska Airlines' strong customer service values.



### S·I0-'120402-015 EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS, STATE CAPITOL II HONOLULU, HAWAI'I 96813 PHONE: (808) 586·0034 II FAX: (808) 586..0006 II WWW.HAWAII.GOV/GOV

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The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation March 22, 2012 Page two

Since first entering the Hawai'i market in 2007, Alaska Airlines has steadily grown its West Coast to Hawai'i service and this summer will operate 154 weekly flights. Most importantly, Alaska Airlines has done its part to ensure that airfares remain reasonable for both Hawai'i residents and visitors. According to the Department of Transportation (DOT) data, Alaska Airlines had the lowest fares, on average, between the West Coast and Hawai'i as compared to any airline for the last six quarters, ending on September 30, 2011. In addition, according to the DOT data, Alaska Airlines' low fares helped to stimulate the West Coast to Hawai'i travel market (on the routes that Alaska serves), on average, by an estimated 37 percent. Tourism is Hawai'i's number one industry. In these tough economic times, Alaska Airlines' providing more routes to our islands will support strengthening our economy. I respectfully urge the Department ofTransportation's full review ofAlaska Airlines' application to provide the first nonstop flight from San Diego-DCA. Thank you for your time and consideration. Iwish you continued success with all future endeavors.

NA:rs
cc: Daniel Chun Regional Manager, Sales &Community Marketing- Hawai'i Alaska Airlines

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