OST-1997-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY

By this order the Department of Transportation is soliciting proposals from air carriers interested in providing essential air service at Alamosa, Colorado; North Platte and Scottsbluff, Nebraska; and Laramie, Riverton/Lander (Riverton), Rock Springs, and Worland, Wyoming. (See Appendix A for a map of the service area.) The Department will also require Mesa Airlines, Inc., d/b/a United Express (Mesa), to continue serving these points for an additional 30-day period, through January 29, 1998, or until replacement service is secured, whichever occurs first. The Department is also amending the essential air service determination for Lovell/Powell/Cody (Cody), Wyoming, to require service to either Denver or Salt Lake City. Finally, the Department takes no action to prohibit Mesa from suspending service at Cody or at Pueblo, Colorado, on or after December 30, 1997.

Appendix A - Map of Area
Appendix B - Historical Origin-Destination Passenger Traffic (both directions) / Historical Average Daily Emplanements
Appendix C - Detailed Historical Origin-Destination Passenger Traffic at Cody, WY
Appendix D - Mesa Airlines d/b/a United Express EAS at Alamosa, CO; North Platte and Scottsbluff, NB; and Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Workland, WY
Appendix E - Service List

By: Charles Hunnicutt

Mesa Airlines, Inc. / Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport

OST-97-2959 | December 17, 1997

Comments of Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport to Order 97-12-8

We have been told by Mesa Airlines that they are losing money at this airport. The two main reasons sited are the high fees charged by Denver International Airport and the high costs of the code share agreement between Mesa and United Air Lines. For an airline to be competitive in this area, it is necessary that the airline has a code share agreement with a major carrier. Due to the above reasons, we are told that with the expenses far exceeding the revenues, Mesa is unable to show a profit even if the boardings increased significantly. Based on this information it appears that the only way an airline will be able to serve this community is with an Essential Air Service Subsidy.

By: Gary Valentine, Airport Manager

Essential Air Service at Alamosa, CO; North Platte, Scottsbluff, NB; Laramie, Riverton/Lander, Rock Springs, Worland, WY

Order 98-1-13 | OST-97-2960 | OST-97-2954 | OST-97-2955 | OST-97-2958 | OST-97-2956 | OSt-97-2959 | OST-97-2981 | Issued January 16, 1998 | Served January 23, 1998

Order Extending Service Obligation

We require Mesa Airlines, Inc., d/b/a United Express, to maintain essential air service at Alamosa, Colorado, North Platte and Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Laramie, Riverton/Lander, Rock Springs and Worland, Wyoming, as set forth in the Appendix D, of Order 97-12-8, for an additional 30-day period through March 2, 1998 (for the first six communities), and March 6, 1998 (for Worland), or until a carrier capable of providing reliable replacement service actually begins service, whichever is first

By: John Coleman

Essential Air Service Proposals

Alamosa, Colorado

OST-97-2960 | January 26, 1998

Laramie, Wyoming

OST-97-2958 | January 26, 1998

Proposal of Great Lakes Aviation

OST-97-2954 | January 26, 1998

North Platte, Nebraska

OST-97-2956 | January 26, 1998

Riverton/Lander, Wyoming

Rock Springs, Wyoming

OST-97-2959 | January 26, 1998

Scottsbluff, Nebraska

OST-97-2955 | January 26, 1998

Proposal of Great Lakes Aviation

Worland, Wyoming

OST-97-2981 | January 26, 1998

Proposal of Great Lakes Aviation

Alamosa, CO; North Platte, Scottsbluff, NB; Laramie, Riverton/Lander, Rock Springs, Worland, WY (EAS)

Order 98-2-22 | OST-97-2960 | OST-97-2954 | OST-97-2955 | OST-97-2958 | OST-97-2956 | OST-97-2959 | OST-97-2981 | Issued February 20, 1998 | Served February 26, 1998

Order Extending Service Obligation

We require Mesa Airlines, Inc., d/b/a United Express, to maintain essential air service at Alamosa, Colorado, North Platte and Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Laramie, Riverton/Lander, Rock Springs and Worland, Wyoming, as set forth in the Appendix D of Order 97-12-8, for an additional 30-day period through April 1, 1998 (for the first six communities), and April 6, 1998 (for Worland), or until a carrier capable of providing reliable replacement service actually begins service, whichever is first.

By: John Coleman

Alamosa, CO; North Platte, Scottsbluff, NB; Laramie, Riverton/Lander, Rock Springs, Worland, WY

Order 98-3-21 | OST-97-2960 | OST-97-2954 | OST-97-2955 | OST-97-2958 | OST-97-2956 | OST-97-2959 | OST-97-2981 | Issued March 20, 1998 | Served March 26, 1998

Order Extending Service Obligation

By: John Coleman

Essential air service at ALAMOSA, COLORADO, LARAMIE, WYOMING, RIVERTON/LANDER,
WYOMING, ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING, AND WORLAND, WYOMING

Order 98-4-25 | OST-97-2960 | OST-97-2958 | OST-97-2956 | OST-97-2959 | OST-97-2981 | Issued April 23, 1998

Order Selecting Carrier

By: Charles Hunnicutt

Mesa Airlines, Inc., d/b/a United Express

Order 00-5-14 OST-97-2958 OST-97-2959 OST-97-2981	Issued May 11, 2000 Served May 16, 2000	Order Tentatively Selecting Carrier and Setting Subsidy Rate	90-Day Notice of Suspension at Laramie, Worland and Rock Springs, Wyoming;
		Appendix A: Historical O&D
		Appendix B: EAS to be Provided
		Appendix C: Subsidy Calculation
		Appendix D: Subsidy Calculation
		Appendix E: Subsidy Calculation
		Appendix F: Proposed Schedule
		Appendix G: Proposed Schedule
		Appendix H: EAS to be Provided
		Service List

Order 2000-5-14 tentatively reselecting Great Lakes Aviation to provide essential air service at Laramie, Rock Springs and Worland, Wyoming, for the two-year period from May 1, 2000-April 30, 2002, at an annual subsidies of $297, 633, for Laramie, $465,023, for Rock Springs, and $353,345 for Worland.

By: Bradley Mims

Essential Air Service at Page, Arizona; Alamosa, California; Pueblo, Colorado; Ironwood, Michigan/Ashland, Wisconsin; McCook, Nebraska; Laramie, Nebraska; Rock Springs, Wyoming; Worland, Wyoming; Moab, Utah and Vernal, Utah

Order 02-7-20
OST-97-2706
OST-97-2960
OST-99-6589
OST-96-1266
OST-97-3005
OST-97-2958
OST-97-2959
OST-97-2981
OST-97-2694
OST-97-2827

Issued July 11, 2002
Served July 11, 2002

Order Extending Subsidy Rates

Essential Air Service at Page, Arizona; Alamosa, California;
Pueblo, Colorado;
Ironwood, Michigan/Ashland, Wisconsin;
McCook, Nebraska;
Laramie, Nebraska;
Rock Springs, Wyoming;
Worland, Wyoming;
Moab, Utah and Vernal, Utah

The Department extends the interim subsidy rates of Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., for the provision of essential air service at Page, Arizona, Alamosa, and Pueblo, Colorado, Ironwood, Michigan/Ashland, Wisconsin, McCook, Nebraska, Laramie, Rock Springs, and Worland, Wyoming, and at Moab and Vernal, Utah, as set forth in Order 2002-2-13, until further action.

By: Randall Bennett

Essential Air Service at Alamosa, Colorado - Rock Springs, Laramie, Worland, WY - Cortez, Pueblo, CO / Mesa Airlines, Inc. d/b/a United Express / Great Lakes Aviation

Order 02-07-34 OST-97-2960 OST-97-2958 OST-97-2959 OST-97-2981 OST-98-3508 OST-99-6589	Issued July 26, 2002 Served July 31, 2002	Order Requesting Proposals	Essential Air Service at Alamosa, Colorado - Rock Springs, Laramie, Worland, WY - Cortez, Pueblo, CO - 90-Day Notice to Suspend Service
		Appendices

By various orders in 2000, Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Great Lakes) was selected to provide subsidized Essential Air Service (EAS) to each of the above communities. Under our normal procedures when nearing the end of a subsidy rate term, we contact the incumbent carrier to determine whether it is interested in continuing service and whether it will continue to require subsidy. We usually negotiate a new subsidy rate with the carrier, issue an order tentatively reselecting it for a new rate term at the agreed rate, and direct other parties to show cause why we should not finalize our tentative decision. Other carriers wishing to submit competing proposals are invited to do so in response to the show-cause order; if any such proposals are filed, we process them as a competitive case. However, the Department recently became aware of other carriers that are interested in providing EAS at one or more of the above communities. In view of this situation, and to save time, we will forego our discussions with Great Lakes and immediately initiate a formal carrier selection case. Thus, we are issuing an order seeking replacement service proposals for essential air service at each of the communities for new two-year contract periods.

By: Read C. Van de Water

Essential Air Service at Alamosa, Colorado; Rock Springs, Laramie, Worland, WY; Cortez, Pueblo, CO; Mesa Airlines, Inc. d/b/a United Express and Great Lakes Aviation

OST-97-2960
OST-97-2958
OST-97-2959
OST-97-2981
OST-98-3508
OST-99-6589

August 20, 2002
Docketed August 29, 2002

Response of Mesa Air Group to Request for Proposals

Essential Air Service at Alamosa, Colorado - Rock Springs, Laramie, Worland, WY - Cortez, Pueblo, CO - 90-Day Notice to Suspend Service

By: Mesa Air Group, Scott Lyon

Essential Air Service at Rock Springs, Wyoming

OST-97-2959

September 6, 2002

Proposal of Great Lakes Aviation

90-Day Notice of Suspension at Rock Springs, Wyoming

By: Great Lakes, Douglas Voss

Essential Air Service at Alamosa, Colorado / Kearney, McCook, Nebraska / Pueblo, Colorado / Rock Springs, Wyoming

Order 04-1-13
OST-97-2960 - Alamosa, CO
OST-96-1715 - Kearney, NE
OST-97-3005 - McCook, NE
OST-99-6589 - Pueblo, CO
OST-97-2959 - Rock Springs, WY

Issued January 14, 2004 | Served January 20, 2004

Order Setting Final Rates

By this order, we are setting past-period and prospective subsidy rates for Great Lakes Aviation's provision of essential air service at the five communities listed above in two steps. First, we are setting rates retroactive to October 1, 2001, through the ends of the various contract periods, adjusting for the effects of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Second, we are setting rates from the end of those respective contract periods until further Department action.

By: Karan Bhatia

Essential Air Service at Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs & Worland, Wyoming

Order 04-2-9
OST-97-2958 - Laramie, WY
OST-03-14536 - Riverton, WY
OST-97-2959 - Rock Springs, WY
OST-97-2981 - Worland, WY

Issued February 9, 2004 | Served February 12, 2004

Order Requesting Proposals

By this order, the Department is requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing essential air service at the four Wyoming communities listed above for a future two-year period, with or without subsidy. With respect to the specific Wyoming markets at issue here, we expect proposals consisting of service, at a minimum, with two-pilot, twin-engine aircraft with at least 15 passenger seats, and offering a minimum of two or three round trips each weekday and each weekend from the essential air service community to Denver. Such service is generally consistent with what the communities currently receive. We encourage proposals that meet those requirements in an efficient manner. Carriers are also welcome to propose more than one service option, if they choose; they need not limit themselves to those requirements if they envision other, potentially more attractive service possibilities-different hubs, for example-with subsidy requirements that remain competitive.

Great Lakes has served all of these communities since 1998. During the year ended June 30, 2003, the most recent 12-month period for which traffic data are available, Laramie averaged 24.4 enplanements a day, Riverton 30.9, Rock Springs 24.3, and Worland 7.4. These figures represent declines of 21 to 34 percent from levels registered during calendar year 2000, prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11.

By: Karan Bhatia

OST-97-2958 - Suspension-Great lakes Aviation EAS at Laramie
OST-03-14536 - EAS at Riverton, WY - Notice of Great Lakes to Terminate Service
OST-97-2959 - Suspension-Great lakes Aviation EAS at Rock Spring
OST-97-2981 - Suspension-Great Lakes Aviation EAS at Worland

March 12, 2004

Re: Request for Extension

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. did not receive the order requesting proposals within 7 days of the service date, and in fact has yet to receive an original copy of the order from DOT. We were not informed of the issuance of the order and happened across the order on the DMS WEB over a week after it was issued. Despite the fact that we are the incumbent carrier currently providing service to these points, we are not on the service lists for Wyoming, nor some of the other states in which we provide, sometimes exclusively, the essential air service.

We feel that we need an additional 7 days, that we can have the same opportunity to develop proposals that other carriers, more timely served, have had. The one‑week extension will allow us to fully analyze the markets and adequately develop service proposals to be delivered to US DOT.

By: Great Lakes, Dave Thomas

EAS at Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Worland, Wyoming

Issued March 12, 2004 | Served March 17, 2004

Notice of Extension | Word

We have received a request from Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., for a seven-day extension of this due date. In support of its request, Great Lakes Aviation states that it had not received an original copy of Order 2004-2-9 and hence has not had adequate time to develop proposals, and affirms that it will deliver to the Department of Transportation its proposals on or before the expiration of the seven-day extension. We find Great Lakes Aviation’s request to be reasonable; therefore, we will grant all potentially interested applicants seven additional days, until March 22, 2004, to submit service proposals for Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Worland.

By: Randall Bennett

OST-97-2958 - EAS at Laramie, WY
OST-97-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY
OST-97-2981 - EAS at Worland, WY
OST-03-14536 - EAS at Riverton, WY

March 16, 2004

Re: Response to Order Requesting Proposals (Big Sky Transportation)

Big Sky Transportation Co. is pleased to provide proposals to provide Essential Air Service to the Wyoming points of Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs and Worland. It is our belief that the proposals being made are unique and offer the Wyoming communities substantially better service than is being provided by the incumbent carrier. The Big Sky proposals include service to both Denver and Salt Lake City from Riverton and Rock Springs, at the same EAS subsidy requirement for service to one hub.

Big Sky seeks and is prepared to begin service to all four communities in accordance with the service proposals contained herein. If Big Sky is awarded all four routes, its overall bid will be reduced by $135,000 annually, as a reflection of economies of scale that would be available for multiple flight operations at Denver. However, if less than all four routes are awarded to Big Sky, the proposed EAS subsidies will not be reduced.

Big Sky has met with civic parties in Rock Springs, Riverton and Worland and presented the proposals being made herewith. We were asked by the Laramie parties to schedule our local visit and proposal review after the DOT comment period has commenced. Based on the discussions we have had, the following summarizes the Big Sky proposal, details of which are contained in exhibits included with this submission.

By: Big Sky, Kim Champney, 406-247-3911, kim.champney@bigskyair.com

March 22, 2004

Re: Response to Order Requesting Proposals (Great Lakes)

This contains the response of Great Lakes Aviation, LTD. to Order Requesting Proposals 2004-2-9.

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. is pleased to submit these proposals to provide essential air transportation at these points in Wyoming.

In light of the instructions in the order to provide a "last and final" offer for the service to these points, Great Lakes has provided a list of options for service to these Essential Air Service points for the communities and the Department to choose from.

As in the recent bids for service points in Nebraska and Colorado, Great Lakes is bidding on these points to provide service in the local markets to Denver as Great Lakes Airlines. These service patterns and times are designed specifically to connect with our codeshare partners Frontier and United Airlines in Denver, with which we hold exclusive code-sharing agreements for the service at these four points.

By: Great Lakes, Dave Thomas, 307-432-7000

March 22, 2004

Re: Proposal of Mesa Air Group d/b/a Air Midwest

Mesa Air Group, Inc. d/b/a Air Midwest cordially submits a proposal to provide Essential Air Service to Rock Springs, Riverton, Laramie, and Worland Wyoming. With the current restructured lease agreements of our Beech 1900D fleet Mesa proposes an enhancement of service in Wyoming at a reduced rate. We propose options to Denver and Salt Lake City for Riverton and Rock Springs with trips daily, and Denver service for Laramie and Worland.

Mesa Air Group Inc. d/b/a Air Midwest, with 25 years experience servicing EAS, would benefit the community with multiple codeshare options that would provide a significant advantage to the local community with low fares and friendly service. These alliances include United Airlines in Denver as well as US Airways and America West Airlines in Salt Lake City. We believe out multiple codeshare affiliations will benefit these communities by increasing their exposure and options to travel, reducing subsidy over time. With our codeshare arrangements and impressive financial stability and reliability, we remain dedicated to the EAS program.

All flights will be operated with our superior fleet of pressurized turboprop Beech 1900 D aircraft which seats 19 passengers, and is larger and quieter than a Metro III. Some of our options exceed service level minimums mandated by the Department of Transportation in Order 2004-2-9. The cost associated with our proposed dual hub service compared with minimum and current levels of service are similar.

By: Mesa, Kendrick Bates

OST-97-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY

March 29, 2004

Re: Certificate of Service

I hereby certify that I have this date served a copy of the Proposal to Provide Essential Air Service at Rock Springs, Wyoming (RKS) Docket OST-1997-2959 upon all persons on the attached Service List by causing a copy to be sent via facsimile and first-class mail, postage paid.

By: Great Lakes Aviation

April 30, 2004

Re: Opportunity to Submit Comments The Honorable Timothy Kaumo

I would like to update you on the essential air service situation at Rock Springs and to give you an opportunity to submit any comments if you wish. As you know, by Order 2004-2-9, February 9,2004, the Department solicited proposals from all interested air carriers to provide service at Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Worland. In response to that order, we received 27 proposal options from Big Sky Transportation Co. d/b/a Big Sky Airlines, Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., and Mesa Air Group, Inc., d/b/a Air Midwest. While we would normally write up a brief summary of all of the proposals, that is not practical in this case given the number of options. Moreover, each carrier applicant was directed to serve its proposal(s) on you; in addition, copies of the proposals may be accessed online through the Department's Dockets Management System at: http://dms.dot.gov/ by doing a simple search on Docket Number 2959.

My purpose in writing to you at this time is to request any final comments you might have on the carriers' service and subsidy proposals before we submit a recommendation on the carrier selection issue to the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs.

By: Dennis DeVany

April 30, 2004

Re: Opportunity to Submit Comments Gary Valentine, Manager, Rock Springs-Sweet Water County Airport

By: Dennis DeVany

April 30, 2004

Re: Opportunity to Submit Comments for Shelly Reams, Administrator, Aeronautics Division

By: Dennis DeVany

OST-97-2958 - EAS at Laramie, WY
OST-97-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY
OST-97-2981 - EAS at Worland, WY
OST-03-14536 - EAS at Riverton, WY

May 24, 2004

Re: The Wyoming Department of Transportation Letter in Support of the Selection of Great Lakes

Of the current proposals for Wyoming, we find that the Great Lakes Aviation proposal best suits our need for access to the national aviation system via continued service with our major carrier, United Airlines, and our discount carrier, Frontier Airlines. The incumbent carrier has created a reliable and growing service scenario which is steadily increasing enplanements. Any disruption in the services offered by our current airline partners could prove detrimental.

By: Jerry DeLano, LaVertha Gotier, Fred Homer, Timothy Kaumo, Shelly Reams, and John Vincent

Essential Air Service at Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Worland, Wyoming

Order 04-07-16
OST-97-2958 - EAS at Laramie, WY
OST-97-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY
OST-97-2981 - EAS at Worland, WY
OST-03-14536 - EAS at Riverton, WY

Issued July 20, 2004 | Served July 23, 2004

Order Selecting Carrier and Setting Final Subsidy Rates | Word

By this order, we are selecting Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., to provide essential air service with 19-passenger B1900D aircraft at Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Worland, Wyoming, for two years for annual subsidy rates of $397,400, $394,046, $390,488, and $797,844, respectively. After a thorough review of the carriers' proposals and the communities' comments, we have decided to select Great Lakes Aviation to continue providing essential air service at all four communities for a new two-year period. Our decision is consistent with the communities' preferences and statutory criteria. The carrier's proposed rates are reasonable, and the carrier's service at these and other subsidized essential air service communities continues to be satisfactory.

By: Karan Bhatia

OST-1997-2958 - EAS at Laramie, WY
OST-1997-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY
OST-1997-2981 - EAS at Worland, WY
OST-2003-14536 - EAS at Riverton, WY

June 14, 2006

Great Lakes Aviation Notice of Service Without Subsidy

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. is hereby providing notification to the Department of Transportation that as of October 1, 2006, the company will provide Essential Air Service at Rock Springs, Wyoming without subsidy.

The Company is currently providing three round trips daily to its Denver Hub utilizing Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia 30-seat aircraft and expects to continue this pattern of service beyond the expiration of the subsidy agreement.

By: Great Lakes, Michael Matthews, 307-432-7000

Order 2006-6-24
OST-1997-2958 - EAS at Laramie, WY
OST-1997-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY
OST-1997-2981 - EAS at Worland, WY
OST-2003-14536 - EAS at Riverton, WY

Issued June 21, 2006 | Served June 26, 2006

Order Requesting Proposals

On June 14, 2006, Great Lakes notified the Department that it will continue its existing service at Rock Springs but on a subsidy-free basis on October 1, 2006, the beginning of the new rate-term. As a result, we will not request proposals for Rock Springs.

As the end of the current rate-term approaches, we are here requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing service at Laramie, Riverton and Worland, with or without subsidy, for the two-year period beginning October 1, 2006. As noted above, Great Lakes will commence its subsidy-free service at Rock Spring on October 1, 2006 and therefore the Department will rely on Great Lakes to provide EAS at Rock Springs. Carriers should file their proposals within 30 days of the date of service of this order. At the end of that period, our staff will docket proposals, thereby making them public, and direct each carrier to serve a copy of its proposal on the civic parties and other applicants. Shortly afterwards, we will provide a summary of the proposals to the communities and ask them to submit their final comments. We will give full consideration to all proposals that are timely filed.

With specific respect to the specific Wyoming markets at issue here, the Department expects proposals consisting of service to Denver with 19-seat or larger aircraft. Due to the historically low enplanements at Worland, the Department expects two round trips on weekdays and weekends. At the remaining two communities, the Department expects three round trips on weekdays and weekends, or two round trips, with larger aircraft. Such service is generally consistent with what the communities currently receive, and fully satisfies their essential air service requirements. We encourage proposals that meet those requirements in an efficient manner.

By this order, the Department is requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing essential air service at Laramie, Riverton, and Worland, Wyoming, for a new two-year period, beginning October 1, 2006, with or without subsidy.

By: Todd Homan

OST-1997-2958 - EAS at Laramie, WY
OST-1997-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY
OST-1997-2981 - EAS at Worland, WY
OST-2003-14536 - EAS at Riverton, WY

August 25, 2006

Worland Municipal Airport in Support of Great Lakes Airlines

Great Lakes Aviation is doing everything that works for us at this time. They have a schedule the traveling public is comfortable with. Their completion and on-time stats are commendable and the presence they have in Denver code-sharing with United and Frontier makes them a good all-around package.

It is my recommendation that the Essential Air Service contract for the next two-year term be retained by Great Lakes Aviation.

By: Gary Thompson

August 25, 2006

Wyoming DOT in Support of Great Lakes Airlines

I have been in contact with. representatives from both Laramie and Worland and they have asked for support of the Great Lakes proposal for service to Denver. I am writing to confirm that from the State's prospective, I concur with the local assessment of selection of Great Lakes. Not only does it provide the best solution for each of these communities, I believe it has far reaching benefits to the entire state's air service system.

By: Shelly Reams

Essential Air Service at Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Worland, Wyoming

Order 2006-9-9
OST-97-2958 - EAS at Laramie, WY
OST-97-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY
OST-97-2981 - EAS at Worland, WY
OST-03-14536 - EAS at Riverton, WY

Issued September 11, 2006 | Served September 14, 2006

Order Selecting Carrier and Setting Final Subsidy Rates

After careful consideration of this matter, including the comments of the state and local officials, the Department has decided to select Great Lakes, to provide EAS at Laramie and Worland in accordance with the carrier's two options. Great Lakes has served Laramie and Worland for many years and continues to provide them with reliable EAS. Great Lakes' proposal would continue to provide three nonstop round trips between Laramie and Denver each weekday and four over each weekend, for an annual subsidy rate of $487,516 and two one-stop (through Laramie or Cheyenne) round trips between Woriand and Denver each weekday and a single one-stop round trip on Saturday and Sunday for an annual subsidy rate of $972,757. The carrier's service at its other subsidized essential air service communities continues to be satisfactory.

By: Michael Reynolds

OST-1997-2958 - EAS at Laramie, WY
OST-1997-2959 - EAS at Rock Springs, WY
OST-1997-2981 - EAS at Worland, WY
OST-2003-14536 - EAS at Riverton, WY

September 7, 2006

Re: Laramie Regional Airport Support for Great Lakes Aviation

This letter is in support of Great Lakes Aviation bid to provide flights from Laramie, Wyoming to Denver International Airport. Great Lakes bid to provide three flights each day to Denver would provide our community with cost-effective, convenient connections to the nation's air transportation system. Great Lakes code-share agreements with Frontier and United Airlines in Denver will provide members of the Laramie community more hassle-free travel options than the option that Big Sky Airlines submitted.

By: Jack Skinner