JOHN 

### H. COX 

### III Mayor CITY COUNCil Tommy L.Benson. III. Ward 1 LoisHawkins. Ward 2 Carolyn Weathers, Ward 3 Beltyj. Walkins, Ward 4 Ann Hollo.~Il, Ward 5 Ernck D.Simmons. Ward 6 

## CITY OF GREENVILLE p. O.

### Box 897• 340Main

51. • 

### Grrenville,

~fu;is;ippi 38701 • Telephone:

662-378-1501 • Facsimile:

662-378-0276. Email:

johncox@grrenvillems.org January 24,2014 Mr.Travis Christ ChiefCommercial Officer SilverAirways 1100 LeeWagener Blvd. Suite 212 Fort Lauderdale, FL33315 Dear Mr.Christ, 

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### This isajoint letter from the Mayors ofGreenville and Tupelo, Mississippi to SilverAirways requesting an adjustment in

### the existing pattern ofair service provided by SilverAirways at our two cities. SilverAirways assumed the Essential AirService (EAS)contract at our two cities October 1,2012. The Departm'ent ofTriulsportation EASaward to Silvercalled for 18 round trips flights per week on a'routing ofGreenville .:. Tupelo

- Atlanta;using.SF-340 turboprop equipment. Subsidy level was set at $7,044.795'iri tcitillannual silbsidy:.base'd'O'nthe projected Silveroperating statistics presented in 

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## .. Foravariety ofreasons ofSilver service got offto avery uneven start in late 2012, with numerous canceled and delayed flights and the delayed and then flawed introduction ofbooking display on the Delta.com website. Also,Silverused the reservations system ofIsland Airfor about the first eight months ofservice. and then switched to its own identity and reservations system in

### June of 2013, For allthese reasons traffic onthe Silver service has been disappointing. Tothe carrier's credit operational performance did improve gradually during 2013 and was within acceptable airline service norms during late summer and early fallof2013. ; 

### However, since about mid-November the operational performance ofSilverAirways at our two cites has declined significantly. Flightschedules are now basically unreliable and customer service, which iscritical when operations are unreliable, has also declined to the point where both airports and city offices are flooded with complaints about local air service. Wedo not want this to continue and we assume SilverAirways feels the same way. Wedo appreciate that changes in 

### the FAAregulations regarding pilot qualification and duty and rest time have greatly impacted SilverAirways. We also appreciate that Silver ispublishing athree flightper day schedule'and rarely 'operating three flights aday and often operating flights late,.The result is,(: further declines in'passenger traffica'iid further'damage to Silver's already damaged brand; '.~;: "." reputation 

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### \\\\w.gn'ffivillems,orgJOHN 

### H. COX 

### III Mayor CITY COUNCIL Tommy L.Benson, III, Ward I LoisHawkins, Ward 2 Carolyn Weather.;, Ward 3 Betty

### J.Watkins, Ward 4 Ann Hollowell, Ward 5 Errick D.Simmons, ward 6 

## CITY OF GREENVILLE p. 

## o.Box 

### 1117• 340Main

51. • Greenville,

~1i$i$ippi 

### 38701 • Telephone:



### (1,2-378-1501 • FalSimile:



### (1,2-378-0276 • Email:

jolmrox@greemillems.org
This situation is not good for our two cities or for Silver Airways or for the tax payers regarding subsidy expense. After consultation with the DOT EASOffice our two cities believe that one immediate step that might help this situation would be an orderly reduction in Silver service at our two cities from the current 36 flights per week on the one stop routing to a 24 flights per week schedule on the same routing. This new schedule would retain the overnight flight pairing that starts in Greenville early in the morning and returns to Greenville late in the evening, in both cases via Tupelo. The new schedule would then just operate one midday round trip on an ATL

- TUP

- GLH

- TUP

- ATLrouting. Total weekday service would then be two round trips a day at each city with one round trip at each city on each Saturday and each Sunday. This would save Silver almost five hours of airplane flight time per day and free up an airplane for roughly six hours a day. We assume this would help the carrier with pilot shortages and whatever else in the way ofoperational challenges the carrier faces on its Atlanta operations. It is not typical for any city to request a reduction in its air service. It is counter to our job as city officials, which is to recruit and retain as much as service as we can. However, we desperately need a reliable air service. Air service is essential to the health our local economies. This is very important to us. We are willing to work with Silver Airways and feel that perhaps a two flight a day schedule, flown reliably, is better than athree flight a day schedule subject to continuing delays and cancellations. Therefore we ask Silver to, on a mutually agreeable date in the near future, reduce service from the current pattern ofthree trips a day to two trips a day along the lines ofthe above outline. However we ask Silver to do this with a commitment to operate the two flights per day schedule reliably in all circumstances except where weather or Atlanta congestion directly causes delays or cancellations. Ifwe see that we have a consistently reliable two flight a day schedule we will commit resources to promote that schedule locally. Right now, no public official who takes his or her responsibilities seriously can authorize the spending oflocal money on air service promotion when the air service to be promoted is simply not reliable and has the uneven history that Silver service at our cities has. We further strongly urge Silver, given the damaged reputation ofthe service in our cities, to reduce fares in a manner that will provide our residents with an attractive air service option. No amount of billboards or media ads can repair a reputation as fast as attractive pricing. Atlanta is the greatest hub airport in the world. The Silver aircraft are beautiful and the in-flight service is very good. But air service has to be about consistent reliability. We appreciate the operational challenges that FAArule changes have imposed on Silver Airways. Let us work togetherJOHN 

## H. COX 

### III Mayor CITY COUNCIL 1bmmy L.Benson, III, Ward I LoisHawkins, Ward 2 Carolyn Weather.;. Ward 3 Bettyj. Watkins. Ward 4 Ann Hollowell, Ward 5 Enick D.Simmons, Ward 6 

## CITY OF 

# GREENV1LLE p.

# o.Box'i1j7

• 340 Main St• GreeIllille,

Mi$~i 38701

• le1ephone:

(1,2-37&-150

I• Facsunile: (l,2-37&-1J276 • Email:

johncox@grreIlliUems.org

to find solutions that permit Silver Airways to be proud ofthe service they provide to Greenville and Tupelo. These proposed solutions hopefully will pave the way for the carrier to re-bid later this year to continue to be our air service provider with a two trip a day pattern. Please let us know as soon as possible ifSilver Airways would like to pursue this service reduction. The DOThas indicated to us that they would permit such a reduction. Silver Airways subsidy would continue to get subsidy payments at the same per flight rate as it is now, meaning that total subsidy payments would be reduced. But with that Silver would save a very significant amount ofpilot and aircraft hours each day, to the benefit ofthe overall carrier operation. And ifwe can have reliable service we can hopefully increase passenger traffic and passenger revenue on the flights. Thank you for your prompt consideration ofthis proposal. Best regards, 

# d~~,~

M~or

cc: Honorable Thad Cochran, Senator for Mississippi Honorable Roger Wicker, Senator for Mississippi Honorable Bennie G.Thompson, Congressman for Mississippi District 2 Honorable DickHall,Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Honorable Jason Shelton, Mayor ofTupelo Honorable Carolyn Weathers, Airport Committee Honorable Errick Simmons, Airport Committee Mr. Kevin Schlemmer, Essential AirService Program, U.S.DOT Mr.John Marshall, COOofSilver Airway Mr.Tommy Booth, Director ofAeronautics at MDOT Mr. Cary Karlson, Economic Development Center ofWashington County Mr. Frank Howell, Delta Council Mr. Mike Mooney, Sixel Consulting Group Mr.Joshua Abramson, Executive DirectorTupelo Airport Authority Mr. Draylon Gant, Director at Greenville Mid-Delta Airport

lIw.v.greemillems.org