U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

OHice of the Secretory 

" of Transportation 

Mr. Paul \V. Lewis 

President 

Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce 

PO Box 3572 

Abilene, TX 79604 

Dear Mr. Lewis: 

Assistant Secretary 

January 22, 2013 

1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE 

Washington. OC 20590 

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Thank you for your Jetter to Secretary of Transportation Ray Lallood, supporting the app.lication 

of Southwest Airlines (Southwest) for two within-perimeter slot exemptions at Roilald Reagan 

Washington National Airport (DCA). South\vest proposes to serve Houston's William P. Hobby 

Airport with one nonstop round trip per day fTom DCA. Secretary LaHood asked that I respond 

to you on his behalf. 

We received Southwest's application on December 5, 2012. Other timely applications were 

received from JetBiue Airways, proposing one nonstop round trip to Jacksonville International 

Airport, Florida, and from US Airways, proposing one nonstop round trip to Will Rogers World 

Airport in Oklahoma City. 

As the matter is stiH pending, I cannot comment on the merits of the points raised in your letter. 

However, I can assure you that all applications received by the U.S. Department of 

Transportation will be given due and careful consideration. 

The Department's action on this matter is being administered through a public ·docket, which 

allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Fol.lowing our normal practice, 1 am 

placing a copy ofyollr letter and this response in docket number DOT-OST-2000-7182. 

I appreciate your interest in this matter. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
. . 

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December 13, 2012 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Docket DOT-OST-2000-7182 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

The Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce a member of the Texas Association of 

African American Chambers of Commerce (T AAACC) and the membership that it 

represents in the Taylor County SMSA and the state of Tex~s African-American 

owned businesses encourage you to support the request of slots at Washington 

Reagan (DCA) for Southwest Airlines to begin nonstop service between Houston 

Hobby (HOU) and our nation's capital. 

Southwest Airlines is a strong Texas company and a leader in their industry with 

many concepts other carriers are emulating or considering. Among them are: Great 

service at a fair price! ... 

The convenient, non-stop connection between Houston Hobby and DCA does so 

much more than simply connect one of America's premier cities with Washington, 

DC. This new connection will result in an entirely new universe of opportunity for 

small businesses on both ends. Southwest's demonstrated commitment to stakeholder outreach and supplier diversity is a great model other carriers would do well to 

mimic, and we fully support their efforts provide nonstop service from DCA to 1-:'0U. 

On behalf of the members of the Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce, TAAACC, 

the State of Texas, the City of Houston and the business and leisure markets that 

will be enhanced by this new service, we are pleased to support Southwest Airlines' 

application to add their award-winning brand of service to Washington Reagan via 

Houston Hoboy. 

Supporting business everywhere, 

-~ -/z Paul W. [ewis" 

President . P 0 Box ~?72 A~ilene, Texas 796.0~. 

Telephone: 325-672-7950; Fax ;325-670-9860 

S10-130104-005 
The Honorable Raymond H. LaH 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportatio 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

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