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