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Assistdnt Secretary 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

January 27, 2012 

The Honorable JCristi Noem 

U. S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congresswoman Noem: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the selection of SkyWest Airlines, Inc., d/b/a Delta 

Connection (SkyWest), to provide essential air service (TEAS) at Aberdeen. I am pleased 

to inform you tihat by Order 2012-1-23 we selected SkyWest to provide EAS at Aberdeen 

consisting of 14 nonstop round trips per week to Minneapolis. 

As you know, on July 15,2011, Mesaba/Pinnacle, d/b/a Delta Connection (Delta), filed 

notice to leave Aberdeen, along with 23 other conamunities. At all of those communities 

Delta was the only carrier providing scheduled service. As a result, by Order 2011-9-5, 

dated September 13,2011, we required Delta to continue to provide EAS past the end of 

its 90-day notice period and requested proposals. In response, at Aberdeen we received 

proposals fi'om only one carrier, SkyWest. 

Because, as you indicated, Aberdeen is among the largest traffic-generating communities 

in the EAS program, upon review we agreed that the appropriate level of subsidized 

service for tiie conununity should be the maximum of two round trips per day, seven days 

per week, with the 50-seat CRJ-200 aircraft SkyWest proposes to operate. SkyWest 

originally requested $1,525,683 annual subsidy for that service, but ultimately agreed to 

$1,198,222. 

If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
, KRISTI NOEM 

SOUTH DAKOTA, AT-LARGE 

226 CANNON BUIIDING 

WASHINGTON, DC 2051S 

(202) 225-2801 

1-«SS-22S-2801 

EMAIL VIA WEDUTE: 

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December 16,2011 

Ms. Susan Kurland 

/\ssistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

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Dear Assistant Secretary Kurland: 

As you know, earlier this year Delta Airlines announced they would be retiring its fleet of Saab regional 

jets which effectively cut service in 24 communities across the country. Delta's announcement provided 

the Department of Transportation (DOT) the opportunity to solicit bids for new carriers to begin service 

in Essential Air Service (EAS) communities. One of these communities was Aberdeen, South Dakota. 

SkyWest Airlines responded to the DOT's Request for Proposal to provide service in Aberdeen through 

the EAS program. In Its proposal, SkyWest followed the direction of the DOT to offer twice daily service, 

or 14 round-trip flights per week, from Aberdeen to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The DOT has indicated it 

would likely support a 12-trip per week schedule because SkyWest is using a higher capacity aircraft. 

The DOT'S EAS program does consider community input when selecting the carrier and the service 

pattern. Aberdeen's preference is to maintain the 14-trip per week schedule, and I would ask that you 

give fair consideration to the community's preference. Furthermore, November's flight load was more 

than 80% making Aberdeen one of the best performing communities impacted by Delta's 

discontinuance. This strong performance should also be noted in the final decision on the number of 

flights servicing Aberdeen. 

I request that you work with SkyWest and the city of Aberdeen to come to a timely agreement on the 

EAS program. It is important to the community and all those that utilize the Aberdeen airport that this 

issue be resolved so that services are not disrupted. I appreciate your consideration of look forward to 

hearing from you on this issue in the near future. 

Regards, 

r'KristiNoem 

Member of Congress 

2310 WEST 41ST STRECT 

SUITE 101 

SIOUX FAUS, S D 57106 

teos) 275-286S 

343 QuiNCY STREET 

BAPIO CITV. SD 57701 

(BOB) 791-4673 

SOS 12TH STREET, SE 

WATERTOWN. S O 57201 

1605) 878-2868 

415 SOUTH MAIN STREET 

SUITE 203 

AOERDEEN. S D 57401 

16051 262-2802 

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