Essential Air Service at Columbia/Jefferson City, Missouri

Order 2006-4-6
OST-2006-23931

Issued April 6, 2006 | Served April 11, 2006

Order Prohibiting Suspension of Service and Requesting Proposals for Replacement Service

By this order, the Department is (a) prohibiting Trans States Airlines, Inc., d/b/a American Connection, from suspending its service at Columbia/Jefferson City, Missouri, at the end of its 90‑day notice period, and (b) requesting proposals, with or without subsidy requests, from carriers interested in providing replacement service.

We expect proposals consisting of service, at a minimum, with two-pilot, twin-engine aircraft offering at least 15 passenger seats. Given the high traffic levels, proposals should contemplate sufficient capacity to meet the program maximum of 67 seats a day: for instance, 18 round trips a week (three each weekday and weekend) with 30-seat aircraft, or 24 round trips a week (four each weekday and weekend) with 19-seat aircraft. Carriers are welcome to propose more than one service option, if they envision other, potentially more attractive service possibilities -- a different hub, for example -- with subsidy requirements that remain competitive.

During calendar year 2005, Columbia/Jefferson City averaged 62.8 enplanements a day, which represented an 11.2 percent improvement over the previous calendar year.

By: Michael Reynolds