OST-01-9309

OST-01-9309

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

OST-01-9309	March 20, 2001	Application for Exemption	Reagan National Airport- Seattle, Washington
		Service List

Hereby requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 93, Subparts K and S to the extent necessary to permit Alaska to operate one roundtrip flight daily between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Seattle, Washington utilizing B737-700 aircraft. Alaska's proposed services to Seattle would bring the convenience of new nonstop service to thousands of passengers traveling between the East Coast and Pacific Northwest of the United States, and would unquestionably generate significant public benefits through maximum utilization of the two slots held previously by Trans World Airlines, Inc.

Counsel: Squire Sanders, Marshall Sinick, 202.626.6651

Alaska Airlines, Inc.; America West Airlines, Inc.; Continental Airlines; TWA Airlines LLC; United Air Lines, Inc.

Order 01-4-8
OST-01-9185
OST-01-9288
OST-01-9309
OST-01-9310
OST-01-9326

Issued April 6, 2001
Served April 6, 2001

Order

Pendente Lite Authority to Continue to Operate two slots at Reagan National Airport

We have decided to grant the TWA LLC application at this time pending approval by the Federal Aviation Administration for the requisite operating authorities. We deny the applications of Continental, Alaska, United, and America West.

We agree with the parties supporting the application that the public interest is best served by granting TWA LLC's request. Without the requested relief, an abrupt service cessation is likely causing substantial inconvenience and confusion for DCA-Los Angeles passengers. While we agree that other applicants could also provide the interim service until a new carrier is selected, even in these circumstances the transition costs for passengers could be significant. For example, schedules might alter significantly, reservations would have to change, tickets reissued, and passengers informed of the changes.

We also agree with the commenters that the approval be very short-term in nature. In that regard the Department has set a very aggressive timetable: proposals are due April 16, answers are due April 30, and we fully expect to issue a final carrier selection decision in May. The authority granted here will expire 90 days after the issuance date of this order or when a replacement service is selected, whichever is earlier. Finally, we wish to make clear that our action here in no way gives American Airlines any advantage whatsoever in the long-term carrier selection decision.

By: Susan McDermott