Johnstown-Cambria County 

Airport Authority 

479 AIRPORT ROAD, JOHNSTOWN. PA 15904 

(814) 536-0002 - Fax (814) 539-5787 

April 20, 2010 

Dennis J. DcVany 

Department Of Transportation 

Essential Air Service Division 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE 

Washington, DC 20590 r-

— I 

—d 

RE: DOT-OST-2002-11446 

DOT-OST-2002-]1451 

Dear Mr. DeVany; 

After meeting with officials from Colgan Air, Gulfstream International and Charter Atr Transport, 

and careful comparison and consideration of the four proposals for HAS service to Jolinstown and 

Altoona, Pa., including Sovereign, the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport Authority and the 

Altoona-Blair County Airport Authority, recommends that Colgan, operating as United Express, 

continvjes as operator of EAS service from JST and AOO for the following reasons: 

1. **Continuity** Colgan has had continuity and familiarity of sei-vice since February 2008, 

following a major advertising campaign by the airport authority since Fall of 2008, The recent 

adjustment to the schedule should increase bookings through more connections, lower air fares, 

and more convenience for the business traveler for one-day travel, besides providing more 

opportunities for increasing leisure travel. 

2. **Hubs/ComTiections** Of the proposed hubs. Washington Dulles continues to offer the most 

connections via one-carrier service (with United) or with other airlines, with the fewest changes of 

planes to more destinations. Near terra and long term viability as a hub is better for Dulles with 

the possibility of airline mergers looming. Proximity to Johnstown with less back-traxJking is 

better than CleveUmd. Flight time to Dulles is slightly longer than to Pittsburgh, but shorter than 

to Cleveland. 

3. •*Schedules/Coiutcctions** Of the proposed schedules for initial service, the other carrier 

options provide citlier fewer flights or less seating capacity to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or 

Washington Dulles, than currently available via Colgan, or that was available when Colgan last 

Boarxi of Authority 

Richard Weaver, Chainiiaii 

RaymojKl Pojscli 

Charles Moycr. Secretary 

Jonathan Gleason, Asst. Seci-etary 

Ijirry Hoover 

William Poliicck, V«:e Chairman 

Sd Cemic, Sr. Treassuirr 

iiinothy C. l.evctwiy, Solicitor 

L. Robcn Kimball, Engineer 

Cjeorge Arcuiio. C'onuniissioner Represcuiativc 

Scott Voelker, Airport Operations Director 
operated as USAirways Express to Pittsburgh with more online code share connecting flights 

available at that time. Proposed schedules to Pittsburgh via Gulfstream or Charter Air Transport 

would not necessarily maxiinize connection potential with multiple carriers vs a one-carrier hub 

operation at Dulles, and also with options of connecting to many other carriers dotnestically and 

internationally. Another connection would often be required after connecting at Pittsburgh or 

Cleveland, or by using another carrier out of Dulles, to the many destinations tliat iire curreiitly 

available on Unitcd's non-stops from Dulles. Gulfstream can provide one-carrier connections at 

Cleveland, but to fewer non-stop destinations and requiring more back-tracking. Charter Air 

Transport would be at a disadvantage at Dulles without a code-share agreement with United, the 

largest carrier there, which is already in place with Colgan. Saturday service is limited or nonexistent with the other carrier options, which would make leisure travel difficult. 

4. •*Agreements/Ticketing/Baggage** Interline Ticketing and Baggage Agreements are already 

in place with Colgan and United and other carriers at Dulles, besides an Intercormecting Flight 

Agreement with United, and Joint Pricitig Agreements. This provides seamless travel via United 

through it's multiple Star Alliance partner airlines, domestically and internationally; advanced 

reservations, automated check-in, ticketing, and baggage processes; and access to United's 

Mileage Plus Program, with reciprocal usage on Star Alliance partners, including Continental and 

US.Airways domestically and internationally. This network has taken years to establish and would 

be difficult to duplicate with a new carrier starting commuter air service, 

5. **Fares** Comparing through-fares on Colgan and United to the add-on fares proposed by the 

other carriers in conjimction with the connecting carrier does not give a great advantage in lower 

air fares, even when connecting to some of the low-cost carriers at Pittsburgh. Many throughfares on the many connections via United ^t Dulles arc lower than using multiple carriers via 

Pittsburgh, or via another carrier from Johnstown to Dulles. Connecting to some of the low-cost 

carriers, and Southwest being the second largest carrier at Pittsburgh, would also require separate 

booking and ticketing, and would require separate local airport or carrier arrangements for 

handling interlining of baggage. This would create some confusion to the unseasoned traveler, 

and would require re-educating the public on the air service available from Jolmstown. Although 

an add-on fare on the "spoke" leg to/from the hub may not have any restrictions, the fare rules and 

restrictions of the connecting carrier's fare would still apply. 

6. •*Aircraft** Colgan's aircraft are larger with a flight attendant and lavatory. Charter Air 

Transport also provides a larger aircraft with flight attendant and lavatory. A longer flight time to 

Cleveland could be uncomfortable for some without a lavatory. 

7. **Experience** Colgfm has a long history of scheduled commuter air service. Training and 

set-up of operations for a new carrier would be extensive, 

8. **Financial** Colgan and parent Pinnacle are currently financially stable from our 

investigation. 

Board nf Atithority 

i<icbarJ Weaver, Chainiian 

Raymoftd Poisch •• 

Cliarles Moy«', Secretary 

Jonathan Glcason. Asst. Secretary 

I jin-y Hoover 

Willlan! Potatek, Vice Chaiitnan 

Ed Cetnic, Sr. Treasurer 

rimotJiyC. Leventiy. Solicitor 

L. Robert Kimball, F.ngineer 

George Arcurio, Comjnissioner Representative 

Scott Voelker, Airport Operations Director 
Some of the options offered by the other proposals would definitely be something to consider in 

the ftjture, or as a supplement to scheduled service under the EAS program, but we feel 

continuation of the current .service,' with the possibility of an increase of service in an improving 

economy, is our best option at this time. 

We would appreciate your serious consideration of our recommendation for awarding Colgan Air, 

operating as United Express, the contract for continued air service at the Johnstown-Cambria 

County Airport and the Altoona-Blair County Aii-port. 

Sincerely, 

A^^^^4==.^J ^ 

Richard E. Weaver 

Chairman 

Johnstown-Cambria County 

Airport Authority 

XyAy\.. ^^'- ^ ' • 

^^%^ \ 

Mr. Donald A. Ruggery 

Chairman 

Blair County Airport Authority 

cc: Mike Colgan, Colgan Air 

Scott Voelker, JST 

Charies Pillar, AOO 

Board of Auihority 

Richard Weaver, Chainnari 

Raymond Porsch 

Charies Moyer. Secretary 

Jotuithan Gloascn, Asst Secretary 

I.aiTy Hoover 

William Polacck, Vice Chainnaii 

Ed Ccmic. Sr , Treasurer 

Timothy C, Ixsvcnfry, Solicitor 

L. Robert Kimball, Engineer 

George Arciirio, Commissioner Representative 

Scott Voelker, Airpon Optinilions Director