April 7, 2015 Tom Bibb, A.A.E. lAP Director of Properties Metropolitan Nashville AirportAuthority One Terminal Drive, Suite 501 Nashville, TN 37214
DearTom, SeaPortAirlines seeks your assistance in its search for a permanentticket counterspace at the Nashville International Airport at a rate that is equitable and allows SeaPortto meetthe terms of our Essential Air Service (EAS) agreements with the U.S. Department of Transportation. We have been a member in good standing ofthe community ofairlines at Nashville forsome time now and, while not a large airline, we are nonetheless committed to our role in the success ofthe airport. Currently, we are operating out ofthe "EAS/Charter" counter ata rate of$200 perturn. With our current level offlight activitythis is not economically sustainable. Atyour direction, we have reached outto other airlines to secure a sublet agreement. These efforts have not yieldeda solution. In fact, United Airlines informed methat the airport authority was looking at assuming their excess space. Being told to seek relief and assistance from the airlines while the authority is in the process oftaking back excess space is sending us on a fool's errand. Additionally, I am told thatthere are three (3) vacant counter positions currently under airport control that are being held for future use. Itappears to SeaPortAirlines thatthe airport is, in essence, creating a real estate drought. This provides the airportwith the benefit being able to charge higher rates forthe space which authority elects to release for use. Holding counters out ofthe pool ofavailable spaces for potential business flies in the face of reason when a current airline is being forced to pay the same rate charged for a "one-off' charter operation. Moreover, we wonder ifthe upcoming negotiation for a new Master Operating Agreement is merely coincidental with the airport's interest in assuming excess space from carriers. To be clear, SeaPortAirlines is not asking for a discount orspecial treatment in any other form, but rather asking thatthe pricing ofan open and available counter space be charged at a reasonable rate based on the nature ofour business: scheduled air service.

Hometown service. Worldwide connections. 7505 NF Airport Way, Portland, Oregon97218 S8S-573-2767Tom Bibb, A.A.E. lAP Metropolitan NashvilleAirportAuthority April 7, 2015 Page 2 **-~--~-------- ---~~--------**  ------

We askthat serious consideration be given to both our predicament and our request. Ifthe airport charges "X" for a scheduled air carrier to lease a counter position, we would hope that the airport authority would apply such an established and equitable charge to one singular position ofthe EAS/Charter counter, rather than levying a $200 perturn charge unilaterally. Paying such an exorbitant rate for a ticket counter, attime when the Authority is holding back space, could verywell force SeaPortAirlines to request that USDOT reopen our EAS markets to a new bid that could result in a) subsidy levels that exceed statutory limits and thereby cause our EAS communities to lose all air service or b) rethink our strategy to build Nashville as gatewayto the national air transportation system for rural communities. We anxiously awaityour reply. Sincerely,

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**~/** David Perlitz Director-Airport Operations, US & Mexico

cc: U.S. Department ofTransportation, Essential Air Service Division