Order 2011-12-25

Served: December 29, 2011

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 29th day of December, 2011

Essential Air Service at

Muscle Shoals/Florence/Sheffield/

 Tuscumbia, Alabama

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Mason City, Iowa

Sioux City, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa

Alpena, Michigan

Escanaba, Michigan

Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Michigan

Pellston, Michigan

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Bemidji, Minnesota

Brainerd, Minnesota

Chisholm/Hibbing, Minnesota

International Falls, Minnesota

Thief River Falls, Minnesota

Greenville, Mississippi

Laurel/Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Tupelo, Mississippi

Butte, Montana

Jamestown, North Dakota

Aberdeen, South Dakota, and

Watertown, South Dakota

under 49 U.S.C. 41731 et seq. 

Docket DOT-OST-2000-7856

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10682

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10684 

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0131

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0132

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0300

Docket DOT-OST-2003-15128

Docket DOT-OST-1999-5175

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0133

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0303

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0134

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0135

Docket DOT-OST-2003-15796 

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0304

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10642

Docket DOT-OST-2008-0209

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10685

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0305

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0136

Docket DOT-OST-1997-2785

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0137

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10644
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ORDER EXTENDING SERVICE OBLIGATION

Summary

By this Order, the Department extends the Essential Air Service (EAS) obligation of SkyWest 

Airlines, Inc., d/b/a Delta Connection, (SkyWest) at Butte, Montana, for an additional 30 days, 

through February 10, 2012. Additionally by this Order, we extend the EAS obligation of the two 

wholly owned subsidiaries of Pinnacle Airlines Corporation -- Mesaba Aviation, Inc. (Mesaba) 

and Pinnacle Airlines (Pinnacle), d/b/a Delta Connection -- at the remaining communities for 30 

days, through February 10, 2012. 

Background

On July 15, 2011, SkyWest filed notice of its intent to terminate its service at Butte, Montana, 

effective October13, 2011. Likewise, on July 15, 2011, Mesaba and Pinnacle filed notices to 

terminate their service at 23 communities. By Order 2011-9-5, September 13, 2011, we 

prohibited the carriers from suspending service at the communities.1 

The notices at all of these communities except Butte were triggered by Mesaba/Pinnacle’s

retiring its fleet of 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft. All of the service is now provided with 50-seat 

regional jets. As a result of the larger jet aircraft replacing the smaller Saab 340 aircraft, we will 

require the statutory frequency requirement of two round trips a day, six days a week, i.e., twelve 

round trips a week.

We have received proposals and comments regarding service at the above-captioned 

communities. However, replacement service will not commence before January 12, 2012, the 

end of the current hold-in period. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we must extend the 

service obligations of SkyWest, Mesaba and Pinnacle for an additional 30 days, or until 

replacement service actually begins, whichever occurs first. 

This Order is issued under authority assigned in 14 CFR 385.12(k)(5).

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We require SkyWest Airlines, Inc., d/b/a Delta Connection and Mesaba Aviation, Inc. and 

Pinnacle Airlines, d/b/a Delta Connection, to provide 12 round trips a week to a medium or large 

hub airport at the above-captioned communities;2 

2. We direct SkyWest Airlines, Inc., Mesaba Aviation, Inc. and Pinnacle Airlines to retain all 

books, records, and other source and summary documentation to support subsidy claims for 

payment, and to preserve and maintain such documentation in a manner that readily permits its 

audit and examination by representatives of the Department. Such documentation shall be 

retained for seven years from the service date of this Order or until the Department indicates that 

the records may be destroyed, whichever comes first. Copies of flight logs for aircraft sold or 

 1 A separate order addresses the 30-day hold in at Pierre, South Dakota.

2 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we will extend Delta Connection’s service obligation for successive 30-

day periods as necessary until replacement service actually begins.
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disposed of must be retained. The carrier may forfeit its compensation for any claim that is not 

supported under the terms of this Order.

3. These Dockets will remain open until further order of the Department; and 

4. The Department will serve a copy of this Order on the Mayors and Airport Managers of 

Muscle Shoals/Florence/Sheffield/Tuscumbia, Alabama; Fort Dodge, Mason City, Sioux City, 

and Waterloo, Iowa; Alpena, Escanaba, Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Pellston, and Sault Ste. Marie, 

Michigan; Bemidji, Brainerd, Chisholm/Hibbing, International Falls, and Thief River Falls, 

Minnesota; Greenville, Laurel/Hattiesburg, and Tupelo, Mississippi; Butte, Montana; 

Jamestown, North Dakota; Aberdeen and Watertown, South Dakota; and SkyWest Airlines, Inc., 

Mesaba Aviation, Inc., Pinnacle Airlines Corporation, and on Delta Airlines, Inc..

Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of this Order under the Department’s 

Aviation Economic Regulations, 14 CFR 385.30, must file such petitions within ten (10) days 

after the date of service of this Order.

This Order will be effective immediately, and the filing of a petition for review shall not 

preclude its effectiveness. 

By:

TODD M. HOMAN

Director

Office of Aviation Analysis

(SEAL)

An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at

http://www.regulations.gov