### u.s.Departmentof TronsportatJon OffiCe oftheSecretary ofTransportation ,

Dear Esteemed Mayors: 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC**20~90**

October 28, 20 II As you are aware, ourrequests for comments dated October 21 are ultimately the result of Mesaba!Pinnacle (Delta) filing notice on July 15 to terminate service. At some point in the near future, Delta will be retiring its Saab 340equipment I fear the price tag ofthe replacement equipment will not be sustainable for any length oftime by this small government program. Ittoo may be the case that having a short period ofservice with RJs followed by smaller replacement equipment will be counterproductive to the long-term development ofair service at yourcommunities. Finally, long-hold in periods by carriers held in against their will are to be avoided ifpossible. Deltahas expressed a desire to be replacedat yourcommunities as quickly as possible, and I'm sure they would appreciate any assistance you could offer in that regard. Consistent with Delta's desire, they sent a letterto the Department dated October 20, which we docketed. Since not all ofyou may be aware ofthat letter, I am forwarding it to you as an attachment. DOTtoo would like to expedite these cases, and so would encourage you to send in yourcomments as soon as possible. The requests for comments we sentyou last weekasked for your comments as soon as possible, by email, and not laterthan November 21, and we ofcourse stand by that. However, if you couldadvance that date by a couple ofweeks it would be greatly appreciated. Thatletter offered to answer your questions at any time, and I want to reiterate that offer. BestRegards,

Kevin Adams Industry Economist 202-366-1047 Attachment Communities Brainerd, Minnesota; DevilsLake, North Dakota; Fort Dodge, Iowa; lntemational Falls, Minnesota; Iron Mountain, Michigan; Jamestown, North Dakota; Mason City, Iowa; ThiefRiver Falls, Minnesota; and Watertown. South Dakota Cc: Air Choice One, Bemidji, Delta, Great Lakes. and Sovereign

# A. DELTA

October 20, 2011 Dennis DeVany Chief, EAS and Domestic Analysis Division U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE ''washington, DC 20590. · Re: Great Lakes Airlines, Inc. Dear Mr. DeVany:

### ~~PARTMENT 

## OFfRANSPORTATION

..::C\\ET OPERATIONS 20H OCT 

## 20 P 4: 

## 25 l\lex11nder Vi!ln der Sellen Managing Director and Associate General Counsel Delta Airunes, Inc. 1212 New Yorl< Avenue NW Washington, DC 20005 202.842.4184

. sasdla.vanderbellen@delta.com

Delta supports the EAS program, and believes in the importance of providing small communities with reliable air service. On October 14, 2011, in response to the Department's Request for Proposals, Delta submitted EAS bids in four markets, and our Delta Connection partner, SkyWest, submitted bids to provide Delta Connection service in five additional markets on a prorate basis. Due to the retirement ofour 34-seat Saab aircraft fleet, Delta no longer has suitable aircraft to serve the smaller EAS markets. To that end, we are cooperating with Great Lakes Airlines to enhance their EAS bids in nine small communities where they recently submitted bids. IfGreat Lakes is selected, Delta intends to assist Great Lakes through an interline and ticketing arrangement, participation in our SkyMiles frequent flyer program, and booking capability on delta.com. Sincerely,

w,_ .;•. •• « .. •

# ~~-~ Alexander Van der Sellen

cc: OST-2001-10682 OST-2001-10684 OST-1999-5175 OST-2011-0135 OST-2009-0304 OST-2001-10642 OST-1997-2785 OST-1997-2785 OST-2001-10644 ....: .r. __ . :·.·: \,I.