Essential Air Service at Elfin Cove and Pelican, Alaska

Order 2007-3-6
OST-2002-11586

Issued March 12, 2007 | Served March 15, 2007

Order Requesting Proposals

As the end of the current rate term approaches, in order to provide sufficient time to complete the carrier-selection process before the current contract expires, we are here requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing service at Elfin Cove and Pelican, Alaska, with or without subsidy support, for the two-year period beginning June 1, 2007. Carriers should tile their proposals within 30 days of the date of service of this order.

Proposals should provide sufficient capacity to accommodate historical levels of traffic over the critical outbound segment because of the directional imbalance of traffic. At Elfin Cove, the community generated the equivalent of 225 and 240 passengers in the second and third quarters of 2006. respectively. In order to accommodate these traffic levels, at least three round trips a week during the six-month peak season are required with six-seat aircraft. It appears that one round trip per week in the off-peak season is sufficient. For Pelican, the current level of service appears to he sufficient. We encourage proposals that meet those requirements in an efficient manner. Carriers are also welcome to propose more than one 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