THE SECRETARY Ot= TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

The Honorable Neil Abercrombie 

Governor of Hawaii 

Honolulu, HI 96813 

Dear Governor Abercrombie: 

April 16,2012 

Thankyou for your letter supporting the application of Alaska Airlines, Inc~, for two beyondperimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). If awarded 

these exemptions, Alaska would serve San.Diego International Airport with one round trip per 

day from DCA, with direct service beyond to Honolu1u. 

Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act o.f20 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 Alaska's application, which also proposes one daily round trip to Portland. Oregon, 

on March 12. Other timely applications were r¢ceived from Air Canada, proposing one round 

trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; Frontier Airlines, one ro\,lnd trip to Colorado Springs and 

beyond to San Diego; JetBlue Airlines, one round trip to SanJuan, Puerto Rico" and one r.ound 

trip to Austin~ Texas; Southwest Airlines, one round trip to Austin and San Diego beyond; Sun 

Country Airlines, one round trip to Las Vegas; and Virgin America, Inc., two round trips. to San 

Francisco. 

As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment on the merits of the 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 i$ being administered through a public docket, which 

allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Follqwing our normal practice-, I am 

placing a copy of your letter and this res e in .docket number DOT .. 201 9. 

I appreciate y<>ur interest in this ma 
EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS 

NEIL ABERCROMBIE 

GOVERNOR 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

HONOLULU 

March 22, 2012 

I am writing in strong support of Alaska 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 that there are 352,000 passengers that travel 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 of the 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 
.. 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

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 of Transportation's full review of Alaska Airlines' 

application to provide the first nonstop flight from San Diego-DCA. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. I wish you continued success with all future 

endeavors. 

NA:rs 

cc: Daniel Chun 

Regional Manager, Sales & Community Marketing- Hawai'i 

Alaska Airlines 

S10-120402-0'15