Essential Air Services at Beckley, West Virginia

Order 2008-2-23
OST-1997-2761

Issued February 19, 2008 | Served February 22, 2008

Order Requesting Proposals

By this order, the Department is requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing essential air service at Beckley, West Virginia, for the two-year period beginning August 1, 2008. Carriers should file their proposals no later than March 27.

On November 13, 2007, Colgan discontinued its unsubsidized service at nearby Bluefield/Princeton, West Virginia, with which Beckley's flights had long been linked, and upgraded its aircraft on the route from Beeches to the larger Saabs while continuing to operate 18 nonstop round trips a week rather than dropping down to 12 as allowed under Order 2006-7-2. Very recently, on February 18, 2008, Colgan began operating 12 of those 18 round trips via Staunton, Virginia. Consequently, Colgan now operates 6 nonstop and 12 one-stop round trips a week from Beckley to Dulles with Saabs.

With respect to Beckley specifically, we request proposals consisting of service, at a minimum, with two-pilot, twin-engine aircraft containing at least 15 passenger seats, and offering 12 nonstop or one-stop round trips a week with 30-seat or larger aircraft, or 18 nonstop or one-stop round trips a week with 15- to 19-seat aircraft, to Dulles, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, or any other suitable hub.

By: Todd Homan