U.S. Department Assistant .Secretary of Transportation Office of the Secretory ofTransportation 

### January 22, 2013


### Ms. Melissa Noriega City Council At-Large, Position 3 

### City ofHouston Houston, TX 77251-1562 DearMs. Noriega: f200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington. DC 20590



### w 0



### Thank you for your letterto Secretary ofTranspOiiation Ray LaHood, supporting the application ofSouthwestAirlines (Southwest) for two within-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Southwest proposes to serve Houston's William P. Hobby Airport with one nonstop round trip perday from 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 JetBlue Ainvays, proposing one nonstop round trip to Jacksonville International Airport, Florida, and from US Ainvays, proposing one nonstop round trip to Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. As the matteris 

### still pending, I 

### cannot comment on the merits ofthe 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 consideratjon. The Department's action on this matter is being administered through 

### a public docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following ournormal practice, I 

## am placing a

### copy ofyour Jetterand 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 Intemational Affairs

# Melissa No_rieg_a
_ Houston City CouncilAt-Large Position 3
December 17,2012 The Honorable Ray LaHood SecretaryofTransportation U.S. Department ofTransportation 

### 1200 New Jersey A venue. S.E. Washington, DC 20590 

### Re: DocketNo. DOT-OST-2000-7182 Dear Secretary LaHood: The purpose ofthis letter is to address flights between Houston Hobby Airport (}·lobby) and Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA). Ihave made the trip recently and am very clearthat these routes are needed desperately. Itwould promote the airline competition, affordable airfares and greater access between the nation's capital and Greater Houston. Irespectfully request the Department ofTransportation approve the SouthwestAirlines application for two slotexemptions at DCA. Southwestwill usethese slot exemptions to begin daily nonstop service between DCA and Hobby. As oftoday, there is no scheduled air service between DCA and Hobby. The Houston-DCA market is underservcd and overpriced. As the nation's largest low-costairline, Southwest is well suited to provide significant consumer benefits in this vital market. Since 1971, Southwest has a proven track record oflowering ticket prices and stimulating more passengertraffic in the markets 

### it enters. Through new competition, lower airfares, and the use of:1 standardI43-seat aircraft, Southwest'sproposed service is projected to attract tens-of-thousand ofnew passengers as well as generate millions ofdollars of consumer benefits annually in the DCA-Houston market. Business and leisure travelers would benefit if Southwestis able to bring low-fare competition to the Houston-DCA market. Again Irequest that the Department ofTransportation appl'ove Southwest's application for two slot exemptions at DCA. Thank you in advance for your consideration ofthis important matter. Sincerely,

Melissa Noriega At Large, Position

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## S10-1i12l7-014 ,**------------------------------~----"''~,~~'''** Houston. Texas 77251-1562 

## * 832-3<.13-3005 

# * FAX**~32-393-3251** k atlargcJ((i;houstontx.govm.1uswn uty \.nuncu At-Large Posilion 

### 3 .P.O. Box I562 Houston. Texas 77251-1562