DELTA 

TOWNSHI P 

February 3,2012 

I • — _ Docket Management Facility 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE. 

West Building Ground Floor, Room WI2-140 ;i ;^ - ' 

Washington, DC 20590 B 

Re: Sun Country Slot Exemption - Docket Number FAA-2012-0089 

Ladies and Gentlemen: 

Sun Country Airlines has requested an exemption from the slot limit for Ronald Reagan 

Washington National Airport (DCA) set forth in §93.123(a), to permit the FAA to create air carrier 

slots during certain limited hours for Sun Country's use. The proposed air carrier slots would 

replace two slot exemptions under DOT Order 20 I 0-12-16 awarded to Sim Country. On January 

6, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the DOT 

Order, and Sun Country will lose its existing service between DCA and Lansing's Capital Region 

International Airport. Specifically, Sun Country desires one daily slot during each of the 1,000 and 

1,100 hours. The proposed exemption would permit Sun Country to continue operating its existing 

services and avoid an inequitable result of the Court's order. 

Retaining direct service from Lansing to Washington DC is critical. Lansing is the home of 

Michigan's state government, Michigan State University, several major insurance companies. 

General Motors, hundreds of state associations and a vibrant corporate community whose needs for 

air service have time and time again been demonstrated. Washington DC remains the number one 

destination for business air travelers in the region. In addition to providing direct flights to 

Washington DC, the route will also offer travelers in central Michigan connectivity throughout the 

Atlantic seaboard, as well as international destinations. Given the current economic situation in 

Michigan, this proposed new air service will play a critical role in helping to secure the economic 

well being of the mid-Michigan area. Accordingly, retaining direct service to our nation's capital is 

critical to Lansing. 

The Sun Country DCA service is essential to the economic growth of the Greater Lansing 

Region. The daily service is the only large aircraft (737-800) service to Washington Reagan Airport, 

in the state of Michigan outside of Detroit. Prior to Sun Country, the regional community had 

requested the introduction of this service from numerous other airline operators without success. 

7710 West Saginaw Highway • Delta Township, Michigan 48917-9712 

Information Ph: 517-323-S500 • Fax: 517-323-8599 

v\ v\AV.deltami.gov 
Docket Management Facility 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Re: Sun Country Slot Exemption - Docket Number FAA-2012-0089 

February 3, 2012 

Page 2 of 2 

Accordingly, it is critical that the FAA take the necessary steps to ensure the continuation of the Sun 

Country slots at the established flight times in support of Greater Lansing's business and economic 

growth. 

Your immediate approval of this exemption, so that Sun Country can begin to enter flights 

schedules for sale for the balance of 2012. will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your timely 

consideration of this most important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any 

questions or if 1 may be of any assistance in your review of tbts matter. 

Sinc^el;^ ^ 

J^fft^y^C. Hicks 

D^iia Township Trustee