Order: 2015-4-25

Served: April 30, 2015

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 30th day of April, 2015

Essential Air Service at

CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA

MOAB, UTAH

PUEBLO, COLORADO

VERNAL, UTAH

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

Docket DOT-OST-1997-2649

Docket DOT-OST-1997-2827

Docket DOT-OST-1999-6589

Docket DOT-OST-1997-2706

ORDER EXTENDING SERVICE OBLIGATION

Summary

By this Order, the United States Department of Transportation (the Department) extends the

Essential Air Service (EAS) obligation of SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express 

(SkyWest United), at Crescent City, California, and Pueblo, Colorado, and also operating as 

Delta Connection (SkyWest Delta) at Moab and Vernal, Utah, for an additional 30 days, through 

June 16, 2015, or until a new air carrier begins full EAS at the communities, whichever occurs 

first, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 41734(c).

Background

On November 18, 2014, SkyWest United and SkyWest Delta filed 90-day notices with the 

Department of its intent to terminate its subsidized EAS at all four communities, effective 

April 6, 2015. By Order 2014-11-18 (November 25, 2014), the Department prohibited the air 

carrier from suspending service for 30 days beyond the end of its 90-day notice period, i.e. 

March 18, 2015, and requested proposals from air carriers interested in providing replacement 

service at the four communities. Several carriers filed proposals, which can be viewed on 

www.regulations.gov under each community’s respective docket number.

By Order 2015-3-14 (March 25, 2015), the Department selected Peninsula Airways, Inc. to 

provide EAS at Crescent City for the two-year term beginning September 1, 2015. By Order 

2015-3-15 (March 26, 2015), the Department selected Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. to provide 

EAS at Moab and Vernal for the two-year term beginning May 1, 2015; however, Great Lakes 
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has indicated that they will not commence service on that date. At this time, no selection order 

has been issued for Pueblo.

As a result, we must extend SkyWest’s service obligation’s at all four communities for another 

30 days as described in Appendix A, or until replacement service actually begins, whichever 

comes first. 

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

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We require SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, to provide the level of service at 

Crescent City, California, as set forth in Order 2014-4-23, for an additional 30-day period 

through June 16, 2015, or until an air carrier capable of providing reliable EAS actually begins 

service, whichever is first;1

2. We require SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express and Delta Connection, to provide 

the level of service at Moab, Utah, Pueblo, Colorado, and Vernal, Utah, as set forth in Order 

2014-2-18, for an additional 30-day period through June 16, 2015, or until an air carrier capable 

of providing reliable EAS actually begins service, whichever is first;2

3. We direct SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express and Delta Connection, 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 

disposed of must be retained. The carrier may forfeit its compensation for any claim that is not 

supported under the terms of this Order;

4. These dockets will remain open until further order of the Department; and

 1 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 41734(c), we will extend SkyWest United’s service obligation for successive 30-

day periods as necessary until replacement service actually begins at Crescent City. 2 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 41734(c), we will extend SkyWest United’s and SkyWest Delta’s service 

obligation for successive 30-day periods as necessary until replacement service actually begins at Moab, Pueblo, and 

Vernal.
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5. The Department will serve a copy of this Order on the mayors of Crescent City, California,

Moab, Utah, Pueblo, Colorado, Vernal, Utah; the airport directors at Del Norte Regional Airport

(Crescent City), Canyonlands Airport (Moab), Pueblo Memorial Airport, Vernal Regional 

Airport, and SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express and Delta Connection.

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

Aviation Economic Regulations, 14 CFR 385.31(a), must file such petitions within seven (7) 

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 at

www.regulations.gov
APPENDIX A

Essential Air Service to be Maintained at Crescent City, California

Effective Period: May 18, 2015, through June 16, 2015

Hub: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Scheduled Service: 14 weekly nonstop round trips

Aircraft: 30-passenger Embraer Brasilia EMB 120

Essential Air Service to be Maintained at Moab, Utah

Effective Period: May 18, 2015, through June 16, 2015

Hub: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

Scheduled Service: 12 weekly nonstop round trips

Aircraft: 30-passenger Embraer Brasilia EMB 120

Essential Air Service to be Maintained at Pueblo, Colorado

Effective Period: May 18, 2015, through June 16, 2015

Hub: Denver International Airport (DEN)

Scheduled Service: 12 weekly nonstop round trips

Aircraft: 30-passenger Embraer Brasilia EMB 120

Essential Air Service to be Maintained at Vernal, Utah

Effective Period: May 18, 2015, through June 16, 2015

Hub: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

Scheduled Service: 12 weekly nonstop round trips

Aircraft: 30-passenger Embraer Brasilia EMB 120