Order 2011-1-5

Served: January 7, 2011

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

 

 Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 7

th of January, 2011

ORDER APPROVING ALTERNATE SERVICE PATTERN 

Summary

By this order, we are approving an alternate service pattern for Jonesboro, Arkansas’s subsidized 

essential air service (EAS), operated by Alaska Juneau Aeronautics, Inc. d/b/a SeaPort Airlines

(SeaPort). Service to Kansas City International Airport will now be permitted.

Background

By Order 2009-7-8, July 9, 2009, the Department finalized its selection of SeaPort to provide

subsidized EAS at El Dorado/Camden, Harrison, Hot Springs, and Jonesboro, Arkansas,

1 for a

two-year period beginning when SeaPort inaugurated full service at all communities. SeaPort 

inaugurated service on October 26, 2009. Jonesboro’s service consists of 18 nonstop round trips 

per week to Memphis with 9-passenger Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. The annual subsidy amount for 

the first year was $836,241 (months 0-12). The annual subsidy amount for year two (months 13-

24) is $799,992. 

Proposal and Community Comments

In a December 27, 2010, letter to the Department, SeaPort proposed to “alter the current service 

from three round trip flights per day from Jonesboro to Memphis to two round trips per day from 

Jonesboro to Memphis, and one round trip per day from Jonesboro to Kansas City.” SeaPort 

 

1 The Order tentatively selecting SeaPort was 2009-6-25, June 26, 2009.

Essential Air Service at

JONESBORO, ARKANSAS

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

 Docket DOT-OST-1997-2935 
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states that it is basing its request “on the overwhelming success of the similar service change for 

Harrison, Arkansas.”2

In an e-mail to the Department, Philip Steed, Manager of Jonesboro Municipal Airport said the 

“proposal from SeaPort Airlines is terrific news for air service in Jonesboro.” Further, he would 

appreciate the Department’s “strong support in their request adding Kansas City.”

Decision

We will approve the alternate pattern, which meets the three conditions necessary for approval 

under authority assigned under 14 CFR 385.12(k)(3) of the Department’s Regulations: (1) the 

alternate service pattern is equal to or greater than that determined to be essential; (2) the 

community does not object to the alternate service pattern; and (3) the alternate service pattern 

will not increase SeaPort’s subsidy.

Because we are simply allowing the alternate service pattern and not requiring it, SeaPort may 

revert to the original service pattern at any time.

The weekly compensation ceiling and subsidy rate per flight amounts remain the same as issued 

in Order 2009-7-8.

This order is issued under authority assigned in 14 CFR 385.12(k)(3).

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We approve the alternate service pattern for Alaska Juneau Aeronautics, Inc. d/b/a SeaPort 

Airlines’ essential air service at Jonesboro, Arkansas, to substitute one round trip to Kansas City, 

Missouri, in lieu of Memphis, Tennessee;

2. This docket will remain open until further order of the Department; and

3. We will serve a copy of this order on the mayor of Jonesboro, the manager of Jonesboro 

Municipal Airport, and Alaska Juneau Aeronautics, Inc. d/b/a SeaPort Airlines.

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

Regulations, 14 CFR 385.30, must file such petitions within ten days after the date of service of 

this order.

 

2 Order 2010-4-3, April 7, 2010, approved an alternate service pattern at Harrison, allowing SeaPort to serve Kansas 

City, in addition to Memphis. Further, Order 2010-6-7, June 3, 2010, approved an alternate service pattern at El 

Dorado/Camden and Hot Springs, allowing SeaPort to serve Dallas Love Field, in addition to Memphis. The 

alternate service at El Dorado/Camden and Hot Springs has not yet been implemented.
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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 at http://www.regulations.gov