INTERNATIONAl FAllS-KOOCHICHING COUNTY 

# AIRPORT COMMISSION

INTERNATIONAl FAllS MIINNESOTA 218-283-0738

FAllS INTERNATIONAl AIRPORT 600 Fourth**Str~t** INTERNATIONAl FAllS MN 56649

September 6, 2011

FROM TO Susan Baratono, INL Dennis DeVany, USDOT INL EAS concerns RE

It is our understandingthat Great Lakes Airlines, atthe behest of Delta, plans to put in a proposal for service to International Falls and that the following features would apply:

1. There would be no code-sharing, i.e., we would have atwo-ticket process. Passengers would have to buy a Great Lakes ticketto MSP and then go elsewhere to buy aticketfortravel beyond MSP. 2. Ifan airline otherthan Delta is chosen forthe second leg ofatrip, there would be no continuity of baggage service. 3. Likewise, travelers would only be credited fortheir INL-MSP miles ifthey continued on with Delta. 4. It is our understanding that Great Lakes aircraft cannot accommodate ajetway, so passengers would have to deplane via steps and then walk the tarmac to reach the terminal. 5. It is ourfurther understanding that these aircraft do not have restrooms orflight attendants. 6. It is also our understanding that Great Lakes Airlines has an unfortunate record for reliability.

In re Items 1-3, itseems clear that some people might perhaps choose an airline otherthan Delta forthe second leg ofatrip for cost-saving reasons. But ifthey do that, they will have to put up with considerable inconveniences, such as handling theirown baggage at MSP, resubmitting to security procedures and loss offrequent flier miles.

As to Items 4-6, these are inconveniences that ourtravelers have not had to put up with in the past and that will certainly not be appreciated now. The restroom and flight attendant issues might seem trivial, but we are very far from MSP and iftravelers arriving there then have to walk long distances and go through security again, there could be some significant discomfort involved. In addition, this situation would make it even more difficultto make timely connections to adestination beyond MSP.

It is the consensus ofthe commission that, while some people might choose to do the two-ticket Great Lakes/Delta combo, many more are likelyto skip INL altogether and starttheirtrip in Hibbing or Bemidji, which will retain Deltajetservice at least forthe interim, orto Duluth, where they can also choose to fly United ifthey wish. None ofthose choices would require an overnight. Others might choose to make thelongerjourneyto MSP, which might involve an overnight, but which will look considerably less inconvenient than it used to, given the new hassles offlying from INL.

Since the start ofourcurrent EAS arrangement, beginning in June of last year with its more appropriate and user-friendly schedule, we have seen avery noticeable improvement in ourenplanements- actually
a continuing resurgence to the levels we had before the whole process began. We have every reason to believe this trend would continue ifthings stay as they are. We realize thatthis is not likelyto happen, but**i~** also seems that ourenplanements will become unstable and will deteriorate radically underthe conditions listed above as part ofthe Great Lakes agenda.

We began working late lastyearwith aconsultant to develop a new marketing program and werejust about to launch itwhen the Delta announcement arrived on July 15. The marketing plan was aimed at putting as many people as possible onto airplanes once the Saabs went away and we had the responsibility offilling larger aircraft. That program is now on hold as we waitto see what indeed we will have to work with in terms of marketing. We are standing by to do our part but, to be frank, such a marketing effortwould likely prove quite futile ifwe end up with an arrangementthat looks like the one being tentatively discussed by Great Lakes.

Tomorrow, representatives ofGreat Lakes will be meeting with the statewide Local Air Service Action Committee atthe offices of MnDOTAeronautics in St. Paul. Someone from the commission, and quite probably the other impacted airports, will update you on the results ofthat meeting.

We look forward to working with you again as we all try to craft a new arrangement that will serve our community and our region well and, at the same time, accommodates a carrierwho is interested in meeting ourspecial needs. We are counting on your expertise and your continuing concern.