OST-97-2997 / Business Express Airlines, Inc. d/b/a Delta Connection and Northwest Air Link (exemption BOS-MHT to reduce service below the established level of essential air service) / October 10, 1997

Application of

for an exemption pursuant to 49 USC 40109 for the 90-day notice requirement to reduce service BOS-MHT below the established level for essential air service

Business Express Airlines, Inc. (BEX) hereby applies for an exemption, pursuant to 49-USC 40109, from the provisions of 49 USC 41734 and 14 CFR 323.3(a)(5) to permit it to reduce the air service between Boston, MA Logan Airport (BOS) and Manchester, NH (MHT) below the established level of essential air service on this route, as established in Order 84-10-8, in less than 90 days.

In support of this application BEX states as follows:

1. On August 29, 1997 BEX filed A 90-day Notice of intention to terminate all air service in the BOS-MHT market. BEX hereby incorporates by reference all relevant statements therein.
2. BEX reduced service in this market from three daily round trips to two on October 1, 1997 and stated in the 90-day Notice its intention to terminate all service as of December 1, 1997.
3. BEX herein requests an exemption to allow it to terminate one of the two remaining daily (except Sunday) round trips on November 1, 1997. BEX will continue to operate the remaining round trip until December 1.

 

Application of Business Express For An Exemption October 10, 1997 Page 2

 

 

4. BEX requests the exemption because traffic in the BOS-MHT market is extremely light. As noted in the 90-day Notice, MHT receives air service to a number of other destinations. MHT originating passengers seldom fly to BOS as a final destination and prefer to make connections at other points, such as New York La Guardia (LGA), Newark, Philadelphia, Washington National and Dulles airports, and Chicago, all of which points, among others, have daily non-stop service to MHT.
5. On September 15, 1997 BEX increased its LGA-MHT service from ten to eleven daily non-stop round trips and to twelve on October 1, 1997. These increases have been made possible in part through the reduction in BOS-MHT service.
6. BEX submits that granting this exemption request will not prejudice MHT originating and terminating passengers and will be in the public interest.

WHEREFORE, Business Express Airlines, Inc. respectfully requests that it be granted an exemption permitting it to terminate one Boston, MA-Manchester daily (except Sunday) round trip on November 1, 1997.

Respectfully submitted,

Allan W. Markham

Counsel for Business Express Airlines, Inc.
d/b/a Delta Connection and Northwest Airlink