04/24/2001 01:17 PM House TRA

HJR 28-ALASKA AIRLINES SERVICE TO WASHINGTON DC                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KOHRING  announced that the  first order of  business would                                                               
be HOUSE JOINT  RESOLUTION NO. 28, Supporting  the application of                                                               
Alaska  Airlines   to  provide  air  service   to  Ronald  Reagan                                                               
Washington National Airport.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 0096                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
DENISE  HENDERSON,  Staff  to Representative  Pete  Kott,  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature, came forth to present  HJR 28 on behalf of the                                                               
House Rules Standing Committee, sponsor.   She explained that HJR
 asks the  Alaska State Legislature to  support Alaska Airlines                                                               
in securing  a slot at  the Ronald Reagan Airport  in Washington,                                                               
D.C., in order to provide service from Anchorage.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   KOHRING  asked   whether   the   federal  Department   of                                                               
Transportation  has  control  as  far  as  doling  out  gates  at                                                               
national airports.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. HENDERSON answered in the affirmative.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KOHRING asked why the  state should request that preference                                                               
be given to a certain business  as opposed to opening the airport                                                               
up for other carriers as well.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. HENDERSON responded  that on April 5,  2000, Congress enacted                                                               
the William  H. Ford  Aviation Investment  and Reform  Act, which                                                               
stated  that  new  entrance carriers  and  carriers  serving  the                                                               
smaller  and  medium-sized  cities  should  be  given  allocation                                                               
preference.  At that time there were  12 open slots.  This Act is                                                               
trying  to  expand  services for  the  smaller  and  medium-sized                                                               
carriers.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 0299                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH  remarked that he would  be more concerned                                                               
if there were  a competing airline in Alaska;  since there isn't,                                                               
he believes [the committee] should be supportive.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SCALZI asked  Ms.  Henderson whether  there is  a                                                               
plan for  this to be a  direct flight, and if  not, whether there                                                               
are slots at other airports.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  HENDERSON  offered her  understanding  that  in case  Alaska                                                               
Airlines acquires  the slot, it  is working  on a flight  plan so                                                               
that [passengers] would fly out  of Anchorage, have one change in                                                               
Seattle, and then fly nonstop to Washington, D.C.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WILSON remarked  that she  thinks it  would be  a                                                               
wonderful advantage for Alaskans if this were to come about.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 0458                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK referred to page 2, line 7, and read:                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     WHEREAS   Alaska  Airlines   best  serves   the  public                                                                  
     interest  in the  District of  Columbia airport  market                                                                    
     with a proposal  to provide the first  and only service                                                                    
     between Anchorage and Seattle  and then nonstop service                                                                    
     to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport;                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK offered  her belief that it would  be a good                                                               
market  for Alaska  and for  people in  the state  who could  get                                                               
direct flights from Seattle to Washington,  D.C.  She said she is                                                               
speaking  in support  because she  knows  how terrible  it is  to                                                               
change planes all the time.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON  commented that she  is amazed at  how many                                                               
times people in her district [Wrangell] fly to Washington, D.C.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KOHRING asked how badly Alaska Airlines wants this.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 0655                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
KIM HUTCHINSON  (ph), Alaska Airlines,  came forth to  testify on                                                               
HJR 28.   He stated  that [Alaska Airlines] has  made application                                                               
already, and  is interested in  these two  slots.  He  noted that                                                               
the resolution  helps, but he  doesn't think  it is vital  in the                                                               
application.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  KOHRING  expressed  concern  about the  market  issue  and                                                               
whether  it  is proper  for  a  government  entity in  Alaska  to                                                               
attempt to dictate how it would like the market [to be].                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HUTCHINSON responded  that he  doesn't think  there are  any                                                               
other carriers Alaska Airlines' size  that have applied for this.                                                               
Further, he said  there are no other airlines  that serve Alaska;                                                               
therefore, the  State of Alaska  wouldn't have any  interest, for                                                               
example, in pushing Southwest [Airlines].                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 0768                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON  moved to  report HJR  28 out  of committee                                                               
with individual  recommendations.  There being  no objection, HJR
   was  reported   from  the   House  Transportation   Standing                                                               
Committee.