Essential Air Service at Pierre, South Dakota

Order 2006-3-3
OST-2001-10128

Issued and Served March 3, 2006

Order Requesting Proposals

By Order 2004-7-5, July 9, 2004, the Department selected Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. to provide subsidized essential air service at Pierre through June 30, 2006, at the annual rate of $449,912. Great Lakes’ service consists of 12 nonstop round trips a week to Denver with 19-seat Beech 1900D aircraft. In addition, Mesaba Aviation, Inc., d/b/a Mesaba Airlines, d/b/a Northwest Airlink provides 14 one-stop round trips a week to Minneapolis with 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft. The service provided by Mesaba is not subsidized.

As the end of the current rate term approaches, we are here requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing service in the Pierre-Denver market, with or without subsidy, for the two-year period beginning July 1, 2006. Carriers should file their proposals within 30 days of the date of service of this order.

With specific respect to Pierre, we expect proposals consisting of service, at a minimum, with two-pilot, twin-engine aircraft with at least 15 passenger seats, and offering two round trips to Denver each weekday and weekend (12 a week). Such service is generally consistent with what the community currently receives, and fully satisfies its essential air service requirements. 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.

By: Todd Homan

http://ci.pierre.sd.us/