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OST-2008-0200 - EAS at Williamsport, PA
http://flyipt.com/ - Williamsport Regional Airport
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Essential Air Service at Williamsport, Pennsylvania June 25, 2008 Ninety-Day Notice of Piedmont Airlines Piedmont Airlines, Inc. hereby given notice of its intent to discontinue its unsubsidized service between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Williamsport, Pennsylvania after October 1, 2008. Piedmont’s service is operated as “US Airways Express” under an agreement with US Airways, Inc. In its current schedules for June 2008, US Airways offers five daily Piedmont-operated weekday round trips (less service on weekends) between Philadelphia and Williamsport using 37-seat Dash-8 turboprop aircraft. US Airways and Piedmont would strongly prefer to continue providing scheduled air service to IPT. However, the dramatic increase in the cost of fuel has made it impossible for the carriers to continue to economically operate this service. US Airways and Piedmont regret that they must cancel all service they currently provide to Williamsport effective October 2, 2008. Counsel: US Airways, Howard Kass, 202-326-5153
Issued July 9, 2008 | Served July 14, 2008 Order Prohibiting Suspension of Service and Requesting Proposals | Word By this order, the Department is prohibiting Piedmont Airlines, Inc., d/b/a US Airways Express from suspending service at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and requesting proposals by July 29 from carriers interested in providing replacement essential air service, with or without subsidy. Piedmont’s proposed termination of service at Williamsport would leave it with no scheduled air service. Therefore, the Department must prohibit the carrier from terminating such service at the end of its 90-day notice period, and require it to maintain two daily nonstop round trips to Philadelphia for an initial 30-day period, through October 23, 2008. Specifically for Williamsport, we are requesting proposals for service consisting of four daily round trips with 19-seat aircraft, three daily round trips with 30 seaters, or two daily round trips with 37-seat aircraft. We will entertain proposals to Philadelphia, New York, Washington, or any suitable hub offering connections to the national air transportation system. Carriers interested in providing EAS at Williamsport, with or without subsidy support, should file their proposals no later than July 29. By: Michael Reynolds
July 28, 2008 Re: Colgan Air Request for Extension to Submit Bid Colgan Air is developing a bid for Williarnsport, PA. However, due to certain circumstances, we would like to request an extension for the bid deadline by two weeks in order to gather additional market specific data. By: Colgan, Phil Reed
July 28, 2008 Re: DOT Grant of Colgan's Request On July 28, Colgan Air requested a two‑week extension to submit subsidy proposals for essential air service at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, from July 29, 2008, to August 12. The community supports Colgan's request and we will grant it for all potential applicants, not just Colgan. Proposals will be due no later than August 12, 2008. By: Dennis DeVany
July 29, 2008 Re: Comment Period Extension Request of Congressman John Peterson (R-PA) The Williamsport Regional Airport and the community of Williamsport have indicated that they have been working diligently with multiple airlines on air service proposals. That said, I respectfully request a 2-week extension on the July 29, 2008 deadline for Williamsport Essential Air Service bids in response to Order 2008-7-14. Providing an extension will ensure a more competitive environment for the bidding process, which in turn will provide DOT with more options when selecting a carrier for subsidized service. By: John Peterson
July 28, 2008 Re: Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) Requesting Deadline Extension While I appreciate the Department's efforts to maintain service at Williamsport, it is my understanding that the request for proposals for replacement service specifies only 2 round-trips per day with a 37-seat aircraft, three round-trips with a 30-seat aircraft or 4 round-trips with a 19-seat aircraft. Williamsport officials view this criteria as inadequate to the community's air service needs, as there are currently five round-trips per day at Williamsport, totaling 3000 annual flights and carrying about 158 passengers per day. I am informed in order to avoid a significant drop in airline traffic, Williamsport needs its definition of essential air service changed to at least three round-trips with a 37-seat aircraft, four round-trips with a 30-seat aircraft or five round-trips with a 19-seat aircraft. I am aware that the community has requested that the deadline for replacement proposals be extended until August 12, 2008 so that there may be sufficient time to work out this criteria. With this deadline, Williamsport officials are confident that they can fully develop the best air service proposals with the various airlines who have expressed an interest in providing replacement service. I urge you to grant Williamsport's requests for a deadline extension and definition change your full and fair consideration. By: Arlen Specter
August 12, 2008 Piedmont Airlines hereby files the following proposal to provide subsidized essential air service between IPT and Philadelphia. This proposal offers 19 nonstop round-trips per week, using 37-seat Dash 8-100 aircraft operated as US Airways Express under an agreement with US Airways. Under this proposal, Piedmont would operate three-times-daily service during the week with twice-daily service on weekends. To operate this service, Piedmont requires and annual subsidy of $3,446,944. Counsel: US Airways, Howard Kass, 202-326-5153
August 12, 2008 Re: Ex-Parte Letter to Congressman John Peterson (R-PA) By: Michael Reynolds
July 29, 2008 Re: Proposal of Mesaba Airlines In response to the Department's Order 2008-7-14, Mesaba Aviation, Inc., doing business as Northwest Airlink, is enclosing a detailed subsidy proposal for essential air service at Williamsport, PA at a level of three roundtrip flights per day, using 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft. The following is proposed schedule:
By: Mesaba, John Spanjers
August 12, 2008 Colgan Air, Inc. submits a proposal to provide subsidized service between the community of Williamsport, Pennsylvania and Washington Dulles International Airport. This proposal uses Saab 340 aircraft operated as "United Express" and would require an annual subsidy of $3,157,292. This service is contingent upon United Airlines' approval. The proposed service options for the Central Pennsylvania community is as follows: 21 round-trips per week operated as non-stop service to Washington Dulles International Airport. The 21 round-trips per week conforms to the Department's service request as specified in the initial order. By: Colgan, George Casey, 703-331-3101
August 12, 2008 Re: Ex-Parte Letter to Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) By: Michael Reynolds
Issued August 18, 2008 | Served August 21, 2008 By Order 2008-7-14, July 9, 2008, the Department prohibited Piedmont from suspending service and requested proposals for replacement service consisting of four round trips a day with 19-seat aircraft, three round trips a day with 30 seaters, or two round trips a day with 37-seat aircraft. In response to our request, we received proposals from Piedmont (the incumbent), Mesaba and Colgan Air. However, none of the proposals met the requirements outlined in that order. In addition to prohibiting Piedmont from suspending service at the end of its 90-day notice period, Order 2008-7-14 required the carrier to maintain two daily nonstop round trips to Philadelphia for an initial 30-day period, through October 23, 2008. That requirement remains in effect. We are re-soliciting proposals from all carriers, including but not limited to Piedmont, Mesaba and Colgan, interested in providing EAS at Williamsport, with or without subsidy support, for the two-year period beginning when the carrier inaugurates full service. Carriers should file their proposals no later than September 15, 2008. Proposals should offer service with two-pilot, twin-engine aircraft with at least 15 passenger seats. Specifically for Williamsport, we are requesting proposals for service consisting of four weekday round trips (six over the weekend) with 19-seat aircraft, three daily round trips with 30 seaters, or two daily round trips with 37-seat aircraft. We will entertain proposals to Philadelphia, New York, Washington, or any suitable hub offering connections to the national air transportation system. By: Todd Homan
August 27, 2008 Re: DOT Letter to Congressman John Peterson (R-PA) The Department understands your concern tliat the level of service requested in Order 2008-7-14 is below the level the community currently receives. However, there is a limit on the number of seats eligible for compensadon through the EAS Program. Initially, the maximum number of seats was 62 (40 passengers at a 65 percent load factor). Subsequently, Congress reduced the load factor to 60 percent, making the maximum "number of seats 67. Therefore, the level of service described in and requested by Order 2008-7-14 reflects the maximum level of service that can be subsidized under the EAS Program. By: Mary Peters
September 5, 2008 Re: Support Letter of Susquehanna Minerals I would really appreciate it if you would reconsider your decision to terminate the service that you provide from Williamsport, PA to Philadelphia, PA. As I have previously mentioned my company uses the Williamsport Regional Airport frequently and your decision to terminate this service would create a real hardship and inconvenience, not only to my company, but also to my customers worldwide. By: Lynsie Pfleegor
September 15, 2008 Re: Proposal of Mesaba Airlines In response to the Department's Order 2008-7-14, Mesaba Aviation, Inc., doing business as Northwest Airlink, is enclosing a detailed subsidy proposal for essential air service at Williamsport, PA at a level of two roundtrip flights per day, using 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft.
By: Mesaba, John Spanjers
September 15, 2008 Re: Proposal of Piedmont Airlines This proposal offers 14 subsidized nonstop roundtrips per week, using 37-seat Dash 8-100 aircraft operated as "US Airways Express" under an agreement with US Airways, Inc. Piedmont would operate these subsidized flights twice-daily. Piedmont also intends to offer an additional five roundtrips during week at its own cost when economically feasible. To operate its twice-daily service. Piedmont requires an annual subsidy of $2,295,481.
** Denotes flights which are not subsidized but which would be operated by Piedmont at its own cost, when economically feasible. Counsel: US Airways, Howard Kass, 202-326-5153
September 16, 2008 Re: Request for Community Comments of:
Piedmont proposes to operate 14 nonstop round trips a week to Philadelphia International Airport with 37-seat Dash 8-100 aircraft, at the annual subsidy rate of $2,295,481. In addition, Piedmont states that it intends to offer an additional five weekly round trips on a non-subsidized basis "when economically feasible." Piedmont would operate this service under a codeshare agreement with US Airways Express. Mesaba, operating as Northwest Airlink under a codeshare agreement with Northwest Airlines, proposes to operate 13 weekly nonstop round trips to Detroit Metropolitan-Wayne County Airport with 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft, at the annual subsidy rate of $1,856,600. My purpose in writing to you at this time is to give you an opportunity to submit any final comments you might have on the carriers' subsidy proposals. We request that you review this information as expeditiously as possible and submit any comments you may have as soon as possible, but in any case no later than October 1, 2008. By: Dennis DeVany
September 24, 2008 Re: Pennsylvania College of Technology in Support of US Airways/Piedmont Airlines As a member of the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority, as well as an administrator at Penn College, I wish to express my support for the DOT accepting the bid of US Air to continue providing service to our airport. By: William Martin
September 30, 2008 Re: Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority in Support of US Airways/Piedmont Airlines Regarding the specifics of the air service options generated by the two carrier bids, the Williamsport parties very strongly endorse the bid of US Airways and Piedmont Airlines. The Williamsport parties believe that the Northwest/Mesaba bid, as submitted, does not meet the DOT guarantee of 67 seats per day minimum seating guarantee. The Northwest and Mesaba bid, while well intentioned and appreciated, does not meet the minimum standards for Williamsport EAS and must be bypassed. By: Thomas Hart, 570-368-2444
October 1, 2008 Re: Letter of Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation in Support of US Airways/Piedmont
Letters in Support of US Airways - 372 Names E-Signatures
Issued October 8, 2008 | Served October 14, 2008 Order Extending Service Obligation By this order, the Department of Transportation extends the essential air service obligation of Piedmont Airlines, Inc., d/b/a US Airways Express at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for an additional 30 days, through November 24, 2008. Since November 22nd is a Saturday, this hold-in period will end on the next business day, Monday, November 24th. By: Todd Homan |
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