o 

" -Vui^NroF 

TrarapOrtaHon . . nV^ n P j :V^'5i«9»«^. DC 20590 

Office or theSeaetory 

ofTPonsponatton 

NOV 1 2 2010 

The Honorable Joan Bauer 

Michigan House of Representatives 

State Capitol 

P.O. Box 30014 

Lansing, MI 48909-7514 

Dear Ms. Bauer: 

Thank you for your letter of November I supporting Sun Country Airlines to serve 

Lansing. Michigan, in the ongoing slot-exemption proceeding at Ronald Reagan 

Washington National Airport (DCA). The Secretary has asked that [ respond to your 

letter directly. 

As you know« the U.S. Department of Transportation commenced a proceeding on 

August 30 to reallocate two DCA slot exemptions that are currently held by Republic 

Airline, Inc. (Republic) as a result of its acquisition of Midwest Airlines. Republic has 

been using these (wo slot exemptions for DCA - Kansas City service. These slot 

exemptions may be used to serve any medium hub or smaller airport within the 1,250-

mile perimeter of DCA. 

We have received a total of five proposals, briefly outlined below: 

• Sun Country to serve Lansing continuing onto Minneapolis/St. Paul with 129- or 

162-seat aircraft; 

• Republic, branded as Frontier Airlines, to continue lo serve Kansas City. 

Missouri, with 99-seat regional jet aircraft; 

• Southwest Airlines Co., to serve Kansas City utilizing 137-seat aircraft; 

• US Airways, Inc., to serve Pensacola, Florida, utilizing 76- or 86-seat regional jet 

aircraft, depending on the season; and 

• AirTran Airways, Inc., to serve either Fort Myers or Sarasota. Florida, utilizing 

either 117- or 137-seat aircraft. 

As the slot exemption proceeding is competitive and is currently under review by the 

Department.! am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the merits of the 

proposals. I assure you, however, that the Department will ftilly consider all of the 
The Honorable Joan Bauer 

Page 2 

proposals, and make its awartl based on the selection criteria detailed in the governing 

.statutes. 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2000-7182 as a contact outside the record of this proceeding. If 1 can provide 

further information or assistance, please feci free to call me. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L, Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
68TH DISTRICT 

STATE CAPITOL 

RO. BOX 300M 

LANSING. Ml 08909-7514 

PHONE: (517) 373-0826 

FAX: (517) 373-5698 

E-MAIL: joaiibauGrfi''housG.mi.Qov 

MOUSH o r REPRI-SENTATIVES 

STATE OF MICHIGAN 

JOAN BAUER 

STATE REPRESENTATIVE 

COMMfTTEE: 

APPROPRIATIONS 

SUacOMMiriEES 

HIGHER EDUCATION (Ct 

COMMUNITY COLLEGES IVCi 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMErjr 

JOINT CAPITAL OUTLAV 

November 1.2010 

riic iionoKiblc Rinniond ].. LaHoiKl 

Sccrcliiry of Tninsportatitin 

United States Dcparlincm ofTransportation 

1200 New Jersey A\'enue SE 

Washingtofj. DC 20590 

Re: Sun country Airlines application - DOT;'-OS'r-2000-7182 

Dear Secretary Lallood: 

The Capital Regional Airport Authority supports the appiieation ot'Sun Country Airlines lo provide nonstop serviee to Washington, DC. 1. loo, support the appiieation and urge you lo approve the application. 

The addition of this service u> the Capital Region International Airport is very important and will replace 

the Independence Air service thai our coniniunily lost in 2005. The lost of this service has had a 

tremendous negative impact on air serx'ice. 

The new Sun Country service will go a long way in filling the void in airline service for the mid-Michigan 

area. I urge your approval oiThc Sun Country appiieation. 

SiicercK. 

^'^-- ^ 

fepres-eTttnTwc Joan Bauer 

ISth Oislrict 

/Michigan lloiiseof Rcpresejitatives 

:Si^i-H