Essential Air Service at Joplin, Missouri

Order 2006-8-6
OST-2006-23932

Issued August 4, 2006 | Served August 9, 2006

Order Approving Alternate Service Pattern

By Order 2006-5-11, May 12, 2006, the Department selected Air Midwest, Inc., to provide essential air service at Joplin, Missouri, for a two-year period by operating 18 nonstop round trips to Kansas City each week with 19-seat Beech 1900 aircraft at a subsidy of $849,757 annually. Air Midwest began service at Joplin on August 1, replacing TransStates Airlines, Inc. d/b/a American Connection.

On August 2, Air Midwest submitted a request to implement an alternate service pattern for Joplin by operating 6 of the community’s 18 subsidized round trips to Dallas/Ft. Worth rather than Kansas City at the subsidy level already authorized by Order 2006-5-11. Air Midwest plans to implement the alternate pattern on or about October 5. In a letter dated August 3, the Manager of Joplin Regional Airport states that the community supports Air Midwest’s request.

We will approve Air Midwest’s request, which meets the three conditions necessary for approval under authority assigned under 14 CFR 395.12(k)(3) of the Department’s Regulations: (1) the alternate service pattern is equal to or greater than that determined to be essential; (2) the community does not object to the alternate service pattern; and (3) the alternate service pattern will not increase Air Midwest’s subsidy. Of course, Air Midwest will retain the discretion to revert to the service pattern originally authorized by Order 2006-5-11.

By: Todd Homan