U.S. Department ofTransportation Office ofthe Secretary ofTransportation The Honorable Mark Strama State ofTexas House ofRepresentatives P.O. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78768-2910 DearRepresentative Strama: Assistant Secretary April 20, 2012 1200 NewJersey Avenue. SE Washington, DC 20590

Thankyou for your letterto Secretary ofTransportation Ray LaHood, supporting the award of beyond-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to be used for nonstop service to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Austin, Texas. Secretary LaHood asked me to respond to your letter. Under authority granted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012, the U.S. Department ofTransportation will be awarding to new entrant or limited incumbent carriers atotal ofeightslot exemptions at DCA, which would support four daily round trips. We received applications proposing to serve AUS from two carriers, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Each sought two slot exemptions, which would support one daily DCA-AUS round trip; JetBlue also applied for two slotexemptions to serve San Juan, Puerto Rico. Other timely applications were received from Air Canada, proposing one round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia; Alaska Airlines, one round trip to Portland, Oregon, and one round trip to San Diego; FrontierAirlines, one round trip to Colorado Springs and beyond to San Diego; 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, Icannotcomment on the merits ofthe points raised in your letter. However, Ican assure you that all applications the Departmentreceived 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 matteris being administered through apublic docket, which allows all interested parties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, Iam placing acopy ofyour letterand this response in docket number DOT-2012-0029. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsMarch 19, 2012 The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary ofTransportation 1200 New JerseyAvenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590 DearMr. Secretary:**~tate** 

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MARK STRAMA DISTRICT SO

This letter is submitted in support ofnonstop servicebetween the Nation's capital from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to the Texas capital at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Austin is the 14th largest- and the third fastest-growing- city in the United States with an MSA population of 1.8 million. This is a 37 increase percent since 2000. Moreover, this population is projected to reach 2 million injust three years. AUS has grown right along with the city. Clean, safe, reliable nonstop air transportation is vital to Austin's continued growth. Austin has been ranked as "America's No. 1BoomTown" byForbes magazine. It has been named as one ofthe "Top 10 American Cities ofthe Future" by fDi Intelligence. Austin's unique blend ofeasy-going vibe and energetic capitalism has attracted residents and visitors from across the country and around the world. While the SXSW and ACL musical festivals and other entertainment events draw an ever-increasing numberofleisure visitors;the SXSW Interactive.Conference and leading research institutions examinepressing issues oftechnology and public policy that also attract and retain leading figures inbusiness and academia. • Consistent contributions to America's cultural, political, and intellectual lifebyAustin have helped many. Your award ofthe necessary slots for nonstop AUS-DCA service will ensure these contributions continue. Thank you for your consideration ofAustin during this process. Please contact me ifImay provide any further assistance to you during this process. Sincerely,

# A1~~ Mark Strama MS/mt

P.O. BOX 2910 ·AUSTIN. TEXAS 78768·2910 · (512) 463-0821 ·FAX: (512l 463-1199 

### S10-120327-073 MARK.STRAMA@HOUSE.STATE.TX.US