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OST-2003-14950 |
http://www.co.chautauqua.ny.us/airport/airport.htm- Chautauqua County Airport
Essential Air Service at Jamestown, New York
| OST-2003-14950 | April 14, 2003 | Notice of Air Midwest to Terminate Service |
Essential Air Service at Jamestown, New York |
Order 86-5-46 set forth the essential air service determination at Jamestown, New York to require two nonstop roundtrips each weekday and each weekend to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Though Air Midwest would prefer to continue providing scheduled air service in Jamestown, New York the substantial costs resulting from increased federal regulations for regional carriers makes it impossible to continue without Essential Air Service subsidy. The absence of this subsidy requires Air Midwest to advise the Department that scheduled air service will be discontinued.
At present, Air Midwest is the sole provider of certificated scheduled air service at Jamestown, New York. Air Midwest is hereby providing public notice of its intent to terminate scheduled air service and hereby requests, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 41734 and 14 C.F.R. Part 323, a waiver of the notice requirement to the extent necessary to terminate service by June 8, 2003. Any objections to this Notice to Terminate Service must be fled within twenty (20) days from the date of this filing, in accordance with 14 C.F.R. §323.10.
By: Mesa Air Group, Scott Lyon, 602-685-4368
Order 03-6-11
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, NY
Issued June 5, 2003 | Served June 10, 2003
Order Prohibiting Termination of Service and Requesting Proposals | Word
The Department (1) prohibits Air Midwest, Inc. d/b/a US Airways Express (Air Midwest) from terminating its unsubsidized scheduled air service at Jamestown, New York, (2) requires the carrier to maintain its current service at the community for an initial 30-day period following the end of the notice period; and, (3) requests proposals from carriers interested in providing replacement service at Jamestown. In view of the fact that Air Midwest is the only air carrier providing scheduled air service at Jamestown, we must prohibit the carrier from suspending its service at the end of the notice period, and seek proposal for replacement service. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(b), we will require that Air Midwest maintain three nonstop round trips to Pittsburgh each weekday and over each weekend period, with 19-seat Beech 1900D aircraft, through August 12, 2003. As required by 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we will continue Air Midwest's obligation at Jamestown for additional 30-day periods, as necessary, until the case is concluded and a replacement carrier has started service.
By: Michael Reynolds
June 30, 2003
Request of Colgan Air for a ten-day extension
By: Michael Colgan, 703-331-3102
July 1, 2003
Approval of Request for Extension of Time
Request for Extension To File Proposal For Subsidized Air Service At Jamestown, New York. This is to notify all persons that the request of Colgan Air for a ten-day extension of time to file proposals in Docket 14950 is granted. Proposals will now be due to be filed by July 10, 2003.
By: John McCamant
Order 03-7-8
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, NY
Issued and Served July 7, 2003
During this hold-in period, Air Midwest is entitled to be compensated for its service. The carrier and staff have agreed to an annual subsidy rate of $428,188 for three nonstop round trips a day to Pittsburgh with 19-seat Beech 1900D aircraft. We will compensate Air Midwest at that rate until further Department action, i.e., until we conclude the long-term selection proceeding and select a replacement carrier, either Air Midwest or another carrier, and the service is fully in place.
Exhibit A: Area Map
Exhibit B: Subsidy
Exhibit C: Note
By: Michael Reynolds
July 9, 2003
Proposal of CommutAir d/b/a Continental Connection
By: Joel Raymond
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, NY
OST-03-14528 - EAS at Bradford, PA
July 10, 2003
Colgan is a regional airline operating a fleet of Beech 1900C and D model aixcraft and SAAB 340B aircraft. Colgan operates scheduled regional service as US Airways Express under a services agreement with US Airways. Colgan's proposed service will operate as US Airways Express and will provide seamless online connecting service to US Airways' national and international route system via the Pittsburgh hub. Colgan offers a combined service to both communities that would provide
Bradford with 3 non-stop and 1 one-stop flights per weekday and would serve Jamestown with 4 non-stop flights per weekday. Colgan proposes to use 19-seat Beech 1900 aircraft.
By: Michael Colgan, 703-331-3101
Order 03-7-41
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, NY
Issued July 31, 2003 | Served August 5, 2003
Order Extending Service Obligation | Word
Order 2003-7-41, the Department extends the service obligation of Air Midwest, Inc., d/b/a US Airways Express (Air Midwest), at Jamestown, New York, for an additional 30 days, through September 11, 2003.
By: Randall Bennett
July 31, 2003
Correspondence of Dennis DeVany
By: Dennis DeVany
August 6, 2003
Correspondence from Chautauqua County Development Agency
By: Richard Alexander
July 18, 2003
Correspondence from Chautauqua County Airports
By: Mark Thomas
August 7, 2003
Correspondence of The New York State Assembly at Albany
I urge you to give CommutAir every reasonable consideration in your decision-making process. CommutAir is a competitively priced New York-based airline interested building a long-term market relationship that would benefit the industrial, commercial, private and tourism interests of this region. Continental's Cleveland hub has lower process to a majority of the top 25 origin and destination markets than the current carrier's Pittsburgh hub.
By: Catharine Young
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, NY
OST-03-14528 - EAS at Bradford, PA
August 11, 2003
Correspondence of Bradford Regional Airport | Word
On behalf of the Bradford Regional Airport Authority, the Airport Advisory Committee, and the City of Bradford, I would like to request an extension on the August 14, 2003 deadline to submit comments on the carrier selection.
Recently an Air Service Committee has been formed to completely analyze each proposal submitted to the Department of Transportation. Due to the importance and complexity of the three air carrier proposals, I respectfully ask for a new extension deadline of August 22, 2003.
By: Thomas Frungillo
August 8, 2003
Correspondence from Chautauqua County
By: Mark Thomas
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, NY
OST-03-14528 - EAS at Bradford, PA
August 20, 2003
Proposal of Bradford Regional Airport | Word
By far the most important consideration when making this recommendation was the likelihood that the commitment and actions of the carrier would return Bradford Regional Airport to self-sufficiency over the long term. It is our unanimous opinion that the proposal by CommutAir provides the greatest opportunity to recapture the air passenger market in our region and to return Bradford to self-sufficiency.
The proposal by Colgan was comparable to CommutAir in many respects but we believe starting fresh with a new carrier flying to a new destination - CommutAir to Cleveland vs. Colgan to Pittsburgh - is more likely to have a positive impact on the flying public. Mesa has not shown a comparable commitment in the years it has provided service to Bradford. We are also concerned about the uncertainty of USAirways future commitment to Pittsburgh and the high and non competitive prices that USAirways charges to customers flying from Bradford.
By: Thomas Frungillo
Order 03-9-2
OST-03-14528 - EAS at Bradford, PA
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, NY
Issued and Served September 5, 2003
The least expensive option receiving community support was Colgan 5, requiring $1,003,874 annual subsidy. This option is also the only one offering service with 34-seat aircraft. It would provide Jamestown with two nonstop and one one-stop round trips per day, and just the reverse for Bradford, two one-stops and one nonstop. Both communities feel that CommutAir to Cleveland would offer the best chance in the long term to reduce the Department's expenditure. However, for the two-year period before us, the only period for which we have some certainty, it would require almost twice as much subsidy as Colgan's Option 5. In addition, the growth in total bookings at Bradford may reflect the introduction and growth of low fare service by Jet Blue and Southwest. On balance, Colgan 5 best meets the twin goals of meeting community preferences and minimizing subsidy expenditure.
By: Michael Reynolds
Order 03-9-?
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, NY
Issued September 11, 2003 | Served September 15, 2003
Order Extending Service Obligation | Word
By Order 2003-9-2, September 5, 2003, the Department selected Colgan Air to provide essential air service at Jamestown in conjunction with its service at Bradford, PA, for two years, at an annual subsidy rate of $1,003,874. Colgan has informed us that it expects to be able to inaugurate service at Jamestown and Bradford roughly within 60 to 90 days of the service date of the above-mentioned selection order. Therefore, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we must extend Air Midwest's service obligation at Jamestown for an additional 30 days, or until Colgan's replacement service actually begins, whichever occurs first.
By: Randall Bennett
Order 03-10-5
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Bradford, PA
Issued October 1, 2003 | Served October 6, 2003
Order Extending Service Obligation | Word
On July 13, 2003, Air Midwest became eligible for compensation for its forced service. By Order 2003-7-8, July 7, 2003, the carrier and Department staff agreed to an annual subsidy rate of $428,188, for three (3) nonstop round trips per day to Pittsburgh with 19-seat Beech 1900D aircraft.
By Order 2003-9-2, September 5, 2003, the Department selected Colgan Air to provide essential air service at Jamestown in conjunction with its service at Bradford, PA, for two years, at an annual subsidy rate of $1,003,874. Colgan has informed us that it expects to be able to inaugurate service at Jamestown and Bradford roughly within 60 to 90 days of the service date of the above-mentioned selection order. Therefore, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we must extend Air Midwest's service obligation at Jamestown for an additional 30 days, or until Colgan's replacement service actually begins, whichever occurs first.
By: Randall Bennett
OST-03-14528 - EAS at Bradford, PA
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, PA
October 17, 2003
Correspondence of Office of Aviation Analysis
I am writing to seek clarification as to Mesa's intentions with respect to air service at Jamestown, New York, and Bradford, Pennsylvania. As you know, Mesa, on behalf of Air Midwest, filed notices to suspend service at both communities earlier this year, stating that "...the substantial costs resulting from increased federal regulation for regional carriers makes it impossible to continue without Essential Air Service subsidy. The absence of this subsidy requires Air Midwest to advise the Department that scheduled air service will be discontinued."
As you also know, in response to your notices to suspend service, we issued orders requiring Air Midwest to continue to serve the communities and requesting proposals for replacement service, consistent with longstanding program practice. We then selected Colgan Air from among the three applicants, as set forth in Order 2003-9-2. Carrier transitions are expected to occur 60-90 days after a Department decision. When we contacted Colgan Air recently to find out a transition date, we were told that USAirways could not give Colgan such a date because Air Midwest had not yet determined an exit date. We find this highly unusual, given that the Department's decision selecting Colgan was announced six weeks ago.
Please let me know by October 22 if Air Midwest has changed its mind and now intends to stay on a subsidy-free basis at Jamestown and Bradford or, if not, a date certain for a transition to Colgan Air.
By: Dennis DeVany
OST-03-14528 - EAS at Bradford, PA
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, PA
October 17, 2003
Correspondence of Office of Aviation Analysis
Correspondence from the Office of Aviation Analysis to Mesa Air Group, Inc., advising them that, if no response to their request for clarificaton with respect to air service at Jamestown, New York, and Bradford, Pennsylvania is not received by 4:00 p.m. EDT, October 24, the Department will consider that non-response as an affirmation that Air Midwest does not intend to terminate service at Bradford and Jamestown, and will take action accordingly.
By: Dennsi DeVany
October 24, 2003
Re: Response of Mesa Air Group
Your letter quotes language from our request to suspend service that appears to be suggestive that it is our desire to terminate service. Quite the contrary - this is the language used by the DOT to justify the higher rates incurred by carriers providing essential air service. Further, it is the DOT that requires language stating that in order for a carrier, in this instance, to generate subsidized service to a community, that carrier must file a notice to suspend service. That is the process dictated by your agency and it is quite misleading to communities who read that language and believe that the incumbent carrier arbitrarily wants to terminate service to a community.
With respect to your contact with Colgan to determine a transition date, their response to you is consistent with our discussions with your office. US Airways cannot provide Colgan with a date because the code on those routes is contractually obligated to Mesa.
By: Michael Lotz
Order 03-11-6
OST-03-14528 - EAS at Bradford, PA
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, New York
Issued and Served November 11, 2003
We have decided to terminate EAS subsidy to Air Midwest to serve Jamestown and Bradford, effective immediately. Mesa takes the position that Colgan cannot submit a proposal for service to Pittsburgh for these communities as a US Airways code‑share carrier because Air Midwest has exclusive rights to the US Airways code in these markets. However, Air Midwest retains the rights to the exclusive use of the US Airways code in these markets only for so long as it continues to serve them. Mesa's argument that Colgan cannot use the US Airways code and its refusal to cooperate in a transition necessarily justifies the conclusion that Air Midwest no longer intends to leave these markets.
By: Michael Reynolds
August 4, 2004
Notice of Air Midwest to Terminate Scheduled Air Service at Jamestown, New York
Intent to discontinue scheduled nonsubsidized Essential Air Service between Jamestown, New York and Pittsburgb/Dubois, Pennsylvania, effective October 8, 2004. Though Air Midwest would prefer to continue providing scheduled air service in Jamestown, New York the substantial costs resulting from increased federal regulations for regional carriers makes it impossible to continue without Essential Air Service subsidy. The absence of this subsidy requires Air Midwest to advise the Department that scheduled air service will be discontinued. At present, Air Midwest is the sole provider of certificated scheduled air service at Jamestown, New York.
By: Mesa Air Group, Scott Lyon
August 18, 2004
Re: Letter from the Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities
By: Kenneth Brently
Order 04-08-28
OST-03-14528 - EAS at Bradford, NY
OST-03-14950 - EAS at Jamestown, PA
Issued August 25, 2004 | Served August 30, 2004
Order Allowing Early Termination of Service | Word
By this order, the Department is allowing Air Midwest to terminate all scheduled service at Bradford, Pennsylvania and Jamestown, New York, after October 2, 2004, before the end of the carrier 90-day notice period, provided that Colgan Air’s service is fully in place at that time.
Both the Bradford and Jamestown communities have stated that they have no objection to Air Midwest's early termination of service after October 2, and Colgan has indicated its willingness to commence service at both communities on October 3 in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Order 2003-9-2. We therefore have decided to allow Air Midwest to terminate service at Bradford and Jamestown on less than 90-days' notice, effective after October 2, 2004, provided that Colgan's service is fully in place at that time. As set forth in that order, Air Midwest and Colgan should continue to coordinate the carrier transition and we expect Air Midwest to contact all travelers holding reservations for flights that it intends to suspend, to inform them of the suspension and of the availability of Colgan's service, and to assist them in arranging alternate transportation.
By: Karan Bhatia
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
September 29, 2005
90-Day Notice of Colgan Air d/b/a US Airways Express to Terminate Scheduled Essential Air Service
Colgan Air, Inc. d/b/a/ US Airways Express hereby gives notice of its intent to terminate service at Bradford, Pennsylvania and Jamestown, New York, effective December 27, 2005.
Colgan presently operates 13 non-stop and 6 one-stop round trips weekly to Jamestown as well as 6 non-stop and 13 one-stop round trips weekly to Bradford from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania using 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft. This is the level of Essential Air Service established for Bradford and Jamestown. In October of 2004, Colgan Air, Inc. commenced service between Bradford and Jamestown with the 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft. This service was previously operated by another US Airways Express carrier, Air Midwest Airlines.
Colgan Air has determined that it cannot continue to operate this service economically, without an increase in subsidy due to the industry-wide lower fare environment, declining passenger traffic, and the unprecedented increases in fuel cost. The level of essential air service at Bradford and Jamestown was defined by Order 2003-9-2, and Colgan’s termination at the two communities will terminate all air service.
By: Colgan Air, Michael Colgan
Order 2005-10-27
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
Issued October 25, 2005 | Served October 28, 2005
Order Prohibiting Termination of Service of Colgan Air and Requesting Proposals
By this order, the Department is (a) prohibiting Colgan Air, Inc., d/b/a US Airways Express from terminating its subsidized scheduled air service at Bradford, Pennsylvania, and Jamestown, New York, (b) requiring the carrier to maintain its current service at the communities for an initial 30-day period following the end of the notice period, and (c) requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing replacement service at Bradford and Jamestown.
In view of the fact that Colgan is the only air carrier providing scheduled air service at Bradford and Jamestown, we must prohibit the carrier from suspending its service at the end of the notice period and seek proposal for replacement service. In accordance with 49 U.s.c. 41734(b), we will require that Colgan maintain three nonstop or one-stop round trips to Pittsburgh for each community each weekday and over each weekend period, with 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft, through January 26, 2006. As required by 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we will continue Colgan's service obligations at Bradford and Jamestown for additional 30-day periods, as necessary, until the case is concluded and a replacement carrier has started service.
Carriers interested in filing proposals, with or without subsidy requests, should file them within 30 days of the date of service of this order. At the end of that period, our staff will docket the 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 final comments. We will give full consideration to all proposals that are timely filed.
By: Michael Reynolds
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
November 28, 2005
Proposals of Colgan Air to Provide Essential Air Service
The proposed service options for these communities are as follows: Bradford 6 non-stop and 13 one-stop round trips each week to Pittsburgh or Washington Dulles; Jamestown 13 non-stop and 6 one-stop round trips each week to Pittsburgh or Washington Dulles:
| OPTION 1 | ||||
| Origin | Destination | Departure | Arrival | Stops |
| JHW | IAD | 600 | 800 | 1 |
| JHW | IAD | 1400 | 1530 | 0 |
| JHW | IAD | 1840 | 2035 | 1 |
| IAD | JHW | 900 | 1030 | 0 |
| IAD | JHW | 1700 | 1830 | 0 |
| IAD | JHW | 2110 | 2310 | 1 |
| BFD | IAD | 635 | 800 | 0 |
| BFD | IAD | 1325 | 1530 | 10 |
| BFD | IAD | 1910 | 2035 | 0 |
| IAD | BFD | 900 | 1105 | 1 |
| IAD | BFD | 1700 | 1900 | 1 |
| IAD | BFD | 2110 | 2235 | 0 |
| OPTION 2 | ||||
| Origin | Destination | Departure | Arrival | Stops |
| JHW | PIT | 615 | 750 | 1 |
| JHW | PIT | 1320 | 1455 | 1 |
| JHW | PIT | 1900 | 1950 | 0 |
| PIT | JHW | 1205 | 1257 | 0 |
| PIT | JHW | 1620 | 1715 | 0 |
| PIT | JHW | 2115 | 2250 | 1 |
| BFD | PIT | 700 | 750 | 0 |
| BFD | PIT | 1405 | 1455 | 0 |
| BFD | PIT | 1820 | 1950 | 1 |
| PIT | BFD | 1205 | 1347 | 1 |
| PIT | BFD | 1620 | 1755 | 1 |
| PIT | BFD | 2115 | 2210 | 0 |
By: Colgan Air, Michael Colgan
November 28, 2005
Proposal to of RegionsAir Provide Essential Air Service
Both Bradford and Jamestown will have nonstop service to Cleveland for a combined 36 weekly departures for each community. Specifically, Bradford will have 11 nonstop and 25 one-stop departures per week; Jamestown will have 25 nonstop and 11 one-stop departures per week:
| Routing | Flight # | Departs | Arrives | Frequency | |
| BFD | JHW | 5550 | 7:00 | 7:15 | X67 |
| JHW | CLE | 5550 | 7:30 | 8:29 | X67 |
| CLE | BFD | 5551 | 10:00 | 11:07 | X67 |
| BFD | JHW | 5551 | 11:22 | 11:37 | Daily |
| JHW | CLE | 5551 | 11:52 | 12:51 | Daily |
| CLE | JHW | 5553 | 14:00 | 14:59 | Daily |
| JHW | BFD | 5553 | 15:14 | 15:29 | Daily |
| BFD | CLE | 5553 | 15:44 | 16:51 | X6 |
| CLE | JHW | 5555 | 18:00 | 18:59 | X6 |
| JHW | BFD | 5555 | 19:14 | 19:39 | X6 |
By: RegionsAir
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
November 28, 2005
Letter to Michelle Corignani, Mayor of City of Bradford, PA
I would like to update you on the essential air service situation at Bradford and Jamestown, NY, and to give you an opportunity to submit any comments if you wish. As you know, by Order 2005-10-27, October 25, 2005, the Department solicited proposals from all carriers interested in providing EAS at Bradford and Jamestown for a two-year period. In response to that order, we received proposals from Colgan Air and RegionsAir.
All of Colgan Air's service would be operated as US Airways Express with 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft:
Option 1:
$2,434,827 for service between Bradford/Jamestown and Pittsburgh consisting of three nonstop or one-stop round trips each weekday and over each weekend period.
Option 2:
$2,837,967 for service between Bradford/Jamestown and Washington Dulles consisting of three nonstop or one-stop round trips each weekday and over each weekend period.
RegionsAir:
Option 1:
$1,288,637 for service between Bradford/Jamestown and Cleveland Hopkins consisting of three nonstop or one-stop round trips each weekday and over each weekend period with 19-seat British Aerospace J32 aircraft.
Option 2:
$1,649,913 for service between Bradford/Jamestown and Cleveland Hopkins consisting of three nonstop or one-stop round trips each weekday and over each weekend period with 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft.
My purpose in writing to you at this time is to request any final comments you might have on the carrier's service and subsidy options before we submit a recommendation on the carrier selection issue to the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs.
By: Dennis DeVany
http://www.bradfordpa.com/ - City of Bradford, PA
November 28, 2005
Letter to Samuel Teresi, Mayor of City of Jamestown, NY
I would like to update you on the essential air service situation at Jamestown and Bradford, PA, and to give you an opportunity to submit any comments if you wish. As you know, by Order 2005-10-27, October 25, 2005, the Department solicited proposals from all carriers interested in providing EAS at Jamestown and Bradford for a two-year period. In response to that order, we received proposals from Colgan Air and RegionsAir.
All of Colgan Air's service would be operated as US Airways Express with 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft:
Option 1:
$2,434,827 for service between Bradford/Jamestown and Pittsburgh consisting of three nonstop or one-stop round trips each weekday and over each weekend period.
Option 2:
$2,837,967 for service between Bradford/Jamestown and Washington Dulles consisting of three nonstop or one-stop round trips each weekday and over each weekend period.
RegionsAir:
Option 1:
$1,288,637 for service between Bradford/Jamestown and Cleveland Hopkins consisting of three nonstop or one-stop round trips each weekday and over each weekend period with 19-seat British Aerospace J32 aircraft.
Option 2:
$1,649,913 for service between Bradford/Jamestown and Cleveland Hopkins consisting of three nonstop or one-stop round trips each weekday and over each weekend period with 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft.
My purpose in writing to you at this time is to request any final comments you might have on the carrier's service and subsidy options before we submit a recommendation on the carrier selection issue to the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs.
By: Dennis DeVany
http://www.city-data.com/city/Jamestown-New-York.html - City of Jamestown, NY
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
December 12, 2005
On behalf of the Bradford Regional Airport Authority, I would like to request and extension date of January 20, 2006 to submit comments on carrier selection.
This request is based on the upcoming Holiday Season as well as the limited time to meet and discuss as a group on the different proposal options.
By: Bradford Regional Airport, Thomas Frungillo
December 13, 2005
Grant of Extension of Time to File Comments
The Director of the Bradford Regional Airport, on behalf of the City of Bradford, has requested an extension of time, to January 20, 2006, in which to submit community comments on the Department's carrier selection decision. The Director states that the request is based on the upcoming holiday season as well as the limited time to meet and discuss as a group the different proposal options.
We agree to this extension. The new date for filing comments in the above referenced dockets is now January 20, 2006.
By: John McCamant
January 20, 2006
Re: Recommendation of Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities
A recent survey conducted by Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency of the Industrial, Commercial, Private and Tourism Travelers of the Western Southern Tier of New York State indicates Washington’s Dulles International Airport to be their destination of choice. Washington Dulles Airport gives access to the majority of the top 25 origins and destination markets, something the current Pittsburgh hub does not.
As a successfully functioning airport complete with passenger and freight services, the Jamestown facility is a crucial component of the infrastructure necessary to generate economic growth in the western southern tier. The proposal to Washington’s Dulles would strengthen this growth even further, so we urge you to give Colgan Air every reasonable consideration in your decision making process.
By: George Spanos
January 20, 2006
Comments of Chautauqua County Airport Commission
We have examined the recent air service proposals for Jamestown under the essential Air Service Program. This letter is in full support of the bid by Colgan Air, Inc. to provide service between Washington Dulles Airport and Jamestown, NY.
A recent survey conducted by Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency of the Industrial, Commercial, Private and Tourism Travelers of the Western Southern Tier of New York State indicates Washington's Dulles International Airport to be their destination of choice. Washington Dulles Airport gives access to the majority of the top 25 origins and destination markets, something the current Pittsburgh hub does not.
As a successfully functioning airport complete with passenger and freight services, the Jamestown facility is a crucial component of the infrastructure necessary to generate economic growth in the western southern tier. The proposal to Washington's Dulles would strengthen this growth even further, so we urge you to give Colgan Air every reasonable consideration in your decision making process.
By: CCAC, George Spanos
March 10, 2006
New York Department of Transportation in Support of Dulles Option
Both Jamestown and Bradford have expressed their preference for the proposal submitted by Colgan Air for service to Washington Dulles Airport. We agree that this proposal would best serve the needs of the communities as Dulles provides better connections to the national network than Pittsburgh and Cleveland, the other two cities included in this and the proposal by Regions Air. According to the current OAG schedules, lAD compares favorably against the other cities.
Additionally, local preferences, which favor Dulles, have been documented through the survey conducted by the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency.
Even though the deadline for submitting comments in this matter has passed, I request that you consider this statement of support for this community in your deliberations regarding EAS service at these communities.
By: NYDOT, Seth Edelman
March 8, 2006
Congressman Brian Higgins in Support of Dulles Option
I encourage a favorable decision for Chautauqua County Airport to receive the bid by Colgan Air, Inc. to provide service between Washington Dulles Airport and Jamestown, NY.
By: Brian Higgins
Order 2006-3-17
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
Issued March 21, 2006 | Served March 24, 2006
Order Selecting Carrier - Bookmarked
By Order 2003-9-2, issued September 5, 2003, the Department selected Colgan Air, Inc., d/b/a US Airways Express, to provide subsidized EAS at Bradford, Pennsylvania, and Jamestown, New York, for a two-year period. That order established a subsidy of $1,003,874 per year for both communities combined. Bradford receives 6 non-stop and 13 one-stop round trips to Pittsburgh per week and Jamestown receives 13 non-stop and 6 one-stop round trips to Pittsburgh per week with 34-passenger Saab 340 aircraft. The carrier's rate term expires September 30, 2006, because Colgan did not actually begin service under Order 2003-9-2 until October 3, 2004.
On September 28, 2005, Colgan filed a 90-day notice to terminate all scheduled service at Bradford and Jamestown. Colgan stated that it could not continue to operate this service economically, without an increase in subsidy, due to an industry-wide lower fare environment, declining passenger traffic, and unprecedented increases in fuel costs.
On October 25, 2005, the Department issued Order 2005-10-27 prohibiting Colgan from terminating service and requesting proposals to serve Bradford and Jamestown.
The Department received a total of four service options in response to its solicitation. Colgan Air Inc. submitted a proposal with two options, under which it would continue to operate as US Airways Express. RegionsAir proposed two options and stated in was under discussions with Continental Airlines to operate the service under a code sharing arrangement.
After a thorough review of the carriers’ proposals and the communities’ comments, we have decided to select RegionsAir Option 2. The carrier’s proposed service and subsidy levels are reasonable, and the carrier’s service at its other subsidized essential air service communities continues to be satisfactory.
By: Michael Reynolds
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
September 14, 2006
Colgan Air Request for DOT to Vacate Order 2006-3-17 Selecting RegionsAir to Provide Subsidized EAS
August 28, 2006, nearly 5 months after being awarded the service. Colgan began the transition as scheduled, relocating employees and flight crew members who were based in these communities and making commitments to utilize the aircraft in other service. With less than two weeks notice the August 28, 2006, service start date was pushed back to October 1, 2006. Colgan has since been notified that the October 1, 2006 date now needs to be pushed back to October 15, 2006. It is now 30 days from the scheduled transition and Regions' flight schedules are still not available for sale to the public.
The continued delays by RegionsAir in beginning service to Jamestown, New York and Bradford, Pennsylvania are negatively affecting the traveling public as well as Colgan Air's profitability, due to unplanned increases in transition costs. These delays are causing passengers to not book flights on the existing Colgan Air/USAirways Express service to Pittsburgh due to the uncertainty of the of the transition date and their concerns about cancellation of flights and re-accommodation to Regions Air. This uncertainty has put Colgan Air, its employees, and the traveling public in both communities in an unacceptable position.
Due to Regions' inability to start service and the harm this continued uncertainty does to the traveling public in both communities, as well as Colgan Air and its employees, we respectfully request the Department of Transportation to vacate Order 2006‑3‑17, which selected RegionsAir, and instead to select Colgan Air's proposal for service to Pittsburgh for a two year period beginning October 1, 2006. Upon selection, Colgan Air would like the option to serve Washington Dulles International Airport without an increase in the subsidy rate over Pittsburgh, after consulting with our codeshare partner, the communities, and completing our own financial analysis to ensure such a change will benefit all parties involved.
By: Colgan Air, Michael Colgan
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
September 12, 2006
Bradford Regional Airport Request of Termination of Order 2006-3-17 | Word
On March 21, 2006 the Department of Transportation selected RegionsAir to provide essential air service utilizing the Saab 340 aircraft at Bradford, Pennsylvania and Jamestown, New York.
RegionsAir initially set a transition date of August 28, 2006 to begin service at Bradford and Jamestown, even though they had not maintained reliability in the West Virginia markets.
On August 20, 2006 RegionsAir requested a 30 day extension to begin service on September 28, 2006. The performance and reliability rate of RegionsAir has not improved in the West Virginia markets and they are now requesting another extension to begin service to Bradford and Jamestown on October 15, 2006.
This uncertainty and indecision has caused our customer base to doubt the ability of the Bradford Regional Airport to provide reliable service and has thus been detrimental to our already struggling enplanements.
On behalf of the Bradford Regional Airport Authority, we respectfully request and strongly encourage you to terminate the order selecting RegionsAir and accept the next proposal from Colgan Air to begin immediately.
By: Bradford Regional Airport, Thomas Frungillo, 814-368-5928
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
September 12, 2006
Email Message - RegionsAir Objection to Colgan's Request to Vacate Order
RegionsAir objects to Colgan's request to vacate the order awarding the Essential Air Service contract to us for the two markets.
We don't think the extension is excessive and have tried to work with Colgan to facilitate a smooth transition as possible.
By: Doug Caldwell
Order 2006-9-20
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
Issued September 21, 2006 | Served September 26, 2006
Order Tentatively Vacating Order 2006-3-17 and Selecting Carrier
After a thorough review of the facts of this case, we have decided to tentatively grant Colgan Air's petition, but to give RegionsAir seven days to object to this tentative finding. We selected RegionsAir, to operate as a code-share partner of Continental Airlines, to provide subsidized EAS, at Bradford and Jamestown by Order 2006-3-17 more than six months ago. In the meantime, we have required Colgan Air to continue serving the markets to prevent a hiatus in service, all the while believing that RegionsAir would soon be replacing Colgan Air. RegionsAir has proposed a number of start dates, but is yet to start service. This delay in RegionsAir's start-up has been disruptive to the communities, and has caused a hardship on Colgan Air. The uncertainty of whether RegionsAir will ever inaugurate service has caused ridership and consumer confidence to deteriorate. While we have been reluctant in the past to dictate a specific timeframe in which a selected carrier must begin service, we have stated that we generally expect a transition in the 60-90 day range. It has now been more than six months since we selected RegionsAir to provide EAS at Bradford and Jamestown, and there is no evidence that the carrier is any closer to starting service now than it was six months ago.
By: Michael Reynolds
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
September 26, 2006
RegionsAir Schedules Will Not be Filed by the Date Specified | Word
With respect to the order issued by the Department vacating the award of the EAS contract to RegionsAir for Jamestown, NY and Bradford, PA we reluctantly must inform the Department that our schedules will not be filed by the date specified.
In our initial discussion with Colgan Air we told them that we wanted to start no earlier than the end of summer to give us time to work out whatever issues arose with the new aircraft type. They responded that they were happy with a long transition because they would be getting a high subsidy rate.
During the two calls with Colgan on extensions they never told us that it was imposing a hardship on them, other than for crew planning.
With regard to financial impact, RegionsAir is going to take a significant financial impact and perhaps irreversible harm. We have leased an aircraft, performed maintenance on it, trained pilots and flight attendants and purchased ground equipment (some of which is already on site at the markets). In addition, we were in negotiations with Jamestown for a maintenance facility including tooling, with expectations that 4 experienced Saab mechanics in the local area would immediately staff the facility.
Colgan claims that their traffic has been harmed by the uncertainty. We certainly agree that uncertainty inhibits future bookings. However, in Jamestown according to local records Colgan’s load factors last Spring were 9% for May, 14% for April, 9% for March, 9% for February, and 8% for January with a 9% average for the period year to date. I don’t have the data for Bradford but with single digit load factors I don’t know how much more revenues could possibly drop in Jamestown.
Although we clearly do not want to start service to markets until we are certain that we can provide them with a high degree of reliability it doesn’t appear that the service has been consistently reliable in the past.
By: RegionsAir, Doug Caldwell
Order 2006-10-3
OST-2003-14528 - EAS at Bradford
OST-2003-14950 - EAS at Jamestown
Issued October 4, 2006 | Served October 10, 2006
Order Finalizing Carrier Selection
By this order, the Department finalizes Order 2006-9-20, which tentatively vacated our earlier selection of RegionsAir, Inc. to provide EAS at Bradford and Jamestown, and instead selects Colgan Air. Inc. d/b/a US Airways Express to provide EAS at both communities from October 1, 2006, through September 30, 2008, at an annual subsidy rate of $2,434,827. The subsidy rate is based on service to Pittsburgh, although Colgan has stated it is evaluating serving Washington Dulles International Airport instead of Pittsburgh, the service originally supported by both communities, at the same subsidy rate.
By: Michael Reynolds
OST-2003-14528 - EAS at Bradford
OST-2003-14950 - EAS at Jamestown
December 13, 2007
Proposal of Colgan Air to Modify Existing Subsidized EAS Requirements
Respectfully submits a proposal change to modify our existing Essential Air Service between the communities of Bradford, PA, Jamestown, NY and Pittsburgh. Colgan Air proposes to discontinue operating to Pittsburgh and transition the service to Washington Dulles International Airport. Colgan will provide this service d/b/a United Express to United Airlines Washington Dulles hub. This planned transition will take place on January 7, 2008. We further propose that the total combined annual subsidy remains the same $2,434,827.
Colgan bid this service d/b/a US Airways Express operating into US Airways Pittsburgh hub. Since the time of Colgan's bid US Airways has discontinued Pittsburgh as a hub city. With this change in US Airways Pittsburgh service pattern, connecting opportunities for the traveling public out of Jamestown, NY and Bradford, PA have dramatically decreased. Pittsburgh is no longer economically feasible for Colgan Air.
By Order the Bradford community receives 6 nonstop and 13 one‑stop round trips to Pittsburgh per week and Jamestown receives 13 nonstop and 6 one‑stop round trips to Pittsburgh per week with 34‑passenger Saab 340 aircraft.
By: Colgan, George Casey, 703-656-2520
December 16, 2007
Chautauqua County Airport in Support of Colgan Air | Word
The Chautauqua County Airport (Jamestown, NY) is strongly in support of Colgan Air's proposal to modify Essential Air Service to Jamestown. The proposal to replace the existing service to Pittsburgh with new service to Washington Dulles Airport as a United Express carrier as of January 7, 2007 has invigorated both our business and leisure travel communities. Numerous comments have reached us in support of this change, along with very positive response to the announcements by the various media outlets. We have also received strong support from the news media in Erie, Pennsylvania, as there is no service to the Washington area from Erie. We anticipate many northwest Pennsylvania travelers will utilize this new service in the near future.
By: Airport Manager, David Sanctuary
December 17, 2007
Bradford Regional Airport in Support of Colgan Air | Word
On behalf of the Bradford Regional Airport Authority, we fully support and endorse the Proposal of Colgan Air, Inc. to modify the existing subsidized Essential Air Service requirements for the Bradford community. With the current service situation in Pittsburgh, the Authority believes the change in service to Washington Dulles will significantly improve connection opportunities for regional travelers and increase enplanements.
By: Airport Director, Thomas Frungillo, 814-368-5928
Order 2007-12-23
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
Issued and Served December 21, 2007
Order Approving Alternate Service Pattern | Word
By this order, we are approving the request of Colgan Air, Inc. d/b/a US Airways Express to change Bradford and Jamestown’s hub destination from Pittsburgh to Washington Dulles.
Colgan states that continuing to provide these communities’ EAS to Pittsburgh is no longer economically feasible because US Airways has discontinued Pittsburgh as a hub city, thereby drastically reducing its flight operations. It requests to change the communities’ service from Pittsburgh to Washington Dulles, operating as United Express, rather than US Airways Express, to serve United’s hub operation at Washington Dulles International Airport. Service would be operated by 30/33/34-passenger Saab 340 aircraft, and each community will receive 19 weekly round trips, the same as the current contract, over a Dulles-Jamestown-Bradford-Dulles or Dulles-Bradford-Jamestown-Dulles routing. Colgan believes the change will offer much better domestic and international connecting opportunities and will have a very positive impact for the traveling public and each community. Service from Bradford and Jamestown would change from Pittsburgh to Washington Dulles effective January 7, 2008.
By: Todd Homan
Order 2008-4-12
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
Issued and Served April 7, 2008
Order Requesting Proposals | Word
By this order, the Department is requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing essential air service at Bradford, Pennsylvania, and Jamestown, New York, for the two-year period beginning October 1, 2008, with or without subsidy.
With specific respect to Bradford and Jamestown, we expect proposals consisting of service with two-pilot, twin-engine aircraft with at least 15 passenger seats, and offering two nonstop round trips or three one-stop round trips to Cleveland, Detroit, Washington, D.C. or another suitable hub with connections to the national air transportation system. Carriers should file their proposals no later than May 9, 2008.
By Order 2006-9-20, September 21, 2006, the Department selected Colgan Air, Inc. d/b/a US Airways Express, to provide EAS with subsidy support at Bradford, Pennsylvania, and Jamestown, New York, through September 30, 2008, at a combined annual subsidy rate of $2,434,837. Under that order, Colgan was selected to provide Jamestown with 13 nonstop round trips and 6 one-stop round trips per week to Pittsburgh and to provide Bradford with 6 nonstop round trips and 13 one-stop round trips per week to Pittsburgh. Both communities are served with Saab 340 aircraft. Under Order 2007-12-23, December 21, 2007, with full support from the communities, the Department approved Colgan’s request to move its service from Pittsburgh to Washington Dulles International Airport. The current service to Washington Dulles is operated as United Express.
By: Todd Homan
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
May 9, 2008
By Order 2008-4-12, the Department requested proposals from carriers interested in providing Essential Air Service for a future two-year period. The proposed service options for the communities are as follows; Bradford 18 round-trips per week operated as a combination of one-stop and non-stop service to Washington Dulles; Jamestown 18 round-trips each week operated as a combination of one-stop and non-stop service to Washington Dulles. Colgan is a regional airline operating Beech 1900 and Saab 340 aircraft.
By: Colgan, George Casey, 703-331-3101
May 9, 2008
Proposal of Gulfstream International Airlines
The proposed service pattern (Option 1 and Option 2) features 36 weekly frequencies between Bradford, Jamestown and Cleveland, Ohio. This service constitutes three weekday roundtrips operating on a CLE-BFD-JHW-CLE or CLE-JHW-BFD-CLE routing. Gulfstream proposes to operate these flights using Beech 1900D turboprops that are pressurized and accommodate 19 passengers to the, FAA defined, medium-sized hub at Cleveland, OH.
Gulfstream's second service offering (Option 2) features no change in the schedule proposed in Option 1. Option 2 is a Contingent Bid predicated on Gulfstream being chosen as the Essential Air Service provider at Beckley, WV. The addition of the Beckley route will allow Gulfstream to further reduce some of its costs. Those cost savings are applied in Option 2. Should Gulfstream not be chosen in the Beckley case, only Option 1 will be valid. Should Gulfstream be chosen in the Beckley case, only Option 2 will be valid.
By: Gulfstream, Mickey Bowman
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
May 13, 2008
Re: Requests for Community Comments of:
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. We request that you review each proposal and service option and submit any comments you may have before we submit a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary. We ask that you submit any comments you may have as soon as possible, but in any case no later than June 9, 2008.
Colgan's proposal would offer service to Bradford and Jamestown from Washington Dulles International Airport utilizing Saab 340 aircraft, operating as United Express. Bradford and Jamestown would each receive three weekday and three weekend round trips operated as a combination of one-stop and nonstop service to Washington Dulles, operating on a Dulles-Bradford-Jamestown-Dulles or Dulles-Jamestown-Bradford-Dulles routing, for a combined annual subsidy of $3,826,587.
Gulfstream's proposal would offer service provided to Bradford and Jamestown from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport utilizing Beech 1900 aircraft, operating under its existing codeshare arrangement with Continental Airlines. Bradford and Jamestown would each receive three weekday round trips and reduced weekend service operating on a Cleveland-Bradford-Jamestown-Cleveland or Cleveland-Jamestown-Bradford-Cleveland routing. Gulfstream has proposed two subsidy amounts for the same service, dependent on whether it is selected to provide service at another EAS community, Beckley, West Virginia. In that event, its annual subsidy amount required for Bradford and Jamestown would be $2,616,337. If it is not selected to provide service at Beckley, the subsidy annual subsidy amount for the proposed service would be $2,701,605.
By: Dennis DeVany
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown
June 5, 2008
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Congressman John Peterson (R-PA) in Support of Colgan Air
We are writing to endorse the proposal by Colgan Air to continue to provide Essential Air Service between Bradford, Pennsylvania and Washington-Dulles International Airport. We have recognized that the Colgan proposal will lend support to continued growth in enplanements and to ensure that the communities being served continue to prosper under the Colgan-Dulles route currently in place.
The communities served by Bradford Regional Airport have put forth a compelling argument for the superiority of the Colgan proposal. We support their thesis in that the chosen carrier should have the greatest potential to return the airport to self sufficiency, therefore minimizing the need for future EAS subsidies.
By: Arlen Specter and John Peterson
June 6, 2008
Bradford Regional Airport in Support of Colgan Air
The community concurs unanimously with our analysis and strongly endorses the recommendation for Colgan Air to provide three daily flights between the Bradford and Jamestown airports and Washington Dulles International Airport.
A number of factors have led the community to strongly endorse the Colgan proposal. The availability of commercial air service is critical to the economic success of our region. It contributes to the retention and expansion of existing businesses and supports the attraction of new businesses. The key indicator of the viability of the airport and its contribution to the economy is the number of enplanements that will be generated by the carrier and its hub connection. We are convinced that Colgan-Dulles has far greater potential to increase our enplanements than does the Gulfstream-Cleveland proposal. We are unequivocally convinced that the Gulfstream proposal will lead to a decline in enplanements from both of our airports and endanger the long term viability of commercial air service in our region.
By: Director Thomas Frungillo, 814-368-5928
June 6, 2008
Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport in Support of Colgan Air
Chautauqua County strongly supports the EAS bid from Colgan Air to continue their service to the Washington Dulles airport from our community and from Bradford, PA. We fully realize the significance of the wide disparity in the bid amounts quoted by Colgan Air and Gulfstream International Airlines. However, we feel our efforts over the past two years to re-establish Chautauqua County as a viable departure point for both domestic and international destinations may well be for naught should the DOT select Gulfstream International as our EAS carrier.
It is apparent that in order for Chautauqua County to continue to have scheduled airline service available, enplanements must improve. One variable that definitely affects our ability to grow is the choice of aircraft used to provide service. We believe that in order for us to reach a time when our passenger boardings justify scheduled service without EAS subsidy, we need to support a bid that provides an aircraft large enough for future traffic growth. The Saab 340 aircraft included in Colgan Air's EAS bid is of sufficient size to accommodate the growth we anticipate over the next two years. However, the Beech 1900 aircraft included in Gulfstream International Airline's bid is significantly smaller and is not sufficient to accommodate the anticipated increased enplanements from both Bradford, PA and Jamestown.
By: Chautauqua County Executive, Gregory Edwards
Order 2008-6-37
OST-2003-14528 - Bradford, PA
OST-2003-14950 - Jamestown, NY
Issued June 25, 2008 | Served June 30, 2008
By this order, the Department is selecting Gulfstream International Airlines, Inc. to provide subsidized essential air service at Bradford, Pennsylvania, and Jamestown, New York, at a total annual subsidy of $2,701,865, for the two-year period from of October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2010. However, if Gulfstream does not inaugurate full EAS by October 1, 2008, the selection defaults to Colgan Air, Inc. d/b/a United Express for the same two-period, for a total annual subsidy of $3,826,587.
By: Michael Reynolds
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