NORTHERN MAINE REGIONAL AIRPOML. 

3 OPtRATiO 

[5- 8 P \2: 50 

February?, 2012 

Dennis J. DeVany, Chief 

Essential Air Service Division 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

United States Department of Transportation 

400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 64171 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Mr. DeVany: 

The Presque Isle City Council has reviewed the two remaining proposals to provide air service to 

the Northem Maine Regional Airport. Based on the information available to them in the 

attached memo and the two proposals provided by Air Choice One and Peninsula Airways, the 

Presque Isle City Council recommends Peninsula Airways of Anchorage, Alaska for the next two 

year contract cycle. 

The City of Presque Isle and the Northem Maine Regional Airport withdraw there request for an 

extension to the comment period. 

Please feel free to give me a call at 764-2550 if you have any questions. 

Best Regards, 

Scott Wardwell 

Airport Director 

Northem Maine Regional Airport 

650 Airport Drive, Suite 11, Presque Isle, ME 04769 

Phone: 207-764-2550 • FAX: 207-764-2551 

www.FlyPresquelsle.com 
City of (Presque Isle, Maine 

HieOHiced 

Airport Director 

Scott E. Wardwel! 

EmaiL scottvr@flt)pre9queisle.com 

MEMORANDUM 

TO: 

FROM: 

DATE: 

RE: 

CityCounca JJ U ^ 1 li. 

Scott Wardwell, Airport Director '^h'JllTrU/^^^^!^^^^ 

Febitiary6, 2012 

Selection of Essential Air Service Carrier Resolution 

The Airport Department and the Airport Advisory Committee have concluded their review of all 

three proposals submitted to the United States Department of Transportation to provide air 

service to the Northem Maine Regional Airport for the next two years. Both the Airport 

Department and the Advisory Committee have made every attempt to encourage additional 

bidders. In addition, the Federal Delegation, Airport Department and Advisory Committee have 

met with Peninsula Air in an attempt to further enhance their proposal. Based on the information 

available as of today, both the Airport Department and the Airport Advisory Conmiittee 

recommend that Peninsula Airways of Anchorage, Ala ^ be awarded the contract. 

The Airport Advisory Committee and the Airport Department embrace the ultimate goals of the 

Sovereign Air proposal. Sovereign's proposal included jet service and a return to unsubsidized 

operations after two years. These along with competitive pricing clearly are what the business 

conmiunity in the region is looking for. Our market research clearly shows that all of these goals 

are feasible with a willing airline partner. However, Sovereign Air's proposal was flawed in that 

the airline is not currently certified to operate as a scheduled air carrier. Even after discussions 

with Sovereign, the Airport Department continues to be very concerned about the prospects of 

the company being able to begin service in a timely fashion. 

Air Choice One did not meet any of the criteria used in the selection process. The aircraft 

proposed was less than 15 seats. In addition, their proposal did not provide direct service to a 

medium or large hub. Service would be directly to Portland, Maine. While the Portland Jetport 

has made significant strides in improving their air service, it still does not provide the 

connectivity of a Boston Logan or a similar large hub. 

The Peninsula Airways prc^osal was attractive in several areas. The first is that it offered the 

SAAB 340 aircraft which Colgan currently serves the market with. It also plans to provide nonstop service directly to Boston and with the same frequency as Colgan. In addition, Peninsula 

Airway's winter operational experience is seen as a big improvement over the current carrier 

resulting in better on-time and flight cancellation performance. However, it is not anticipated 

that a code share with a major carrier will be available. In addition, we do not see the kind of 

price competitiveness in their proposal necessary to significantly stimulate additional ridership. 

To be sure, there will be some travellers which will see fare reductions but others will see 

n Second Street Presque Isk, ME 04 769-24S9 207.764.44S5 <Fa3i207.764.2501 
increases. While the SAAB 340 is preferred over a smaller aircraft, it is not a regional jet which 

is necessary to make service directly to an airline hub feasible. While not everything we had 

hoped for, overall the Peninsula Airways proposal is the best of the three proposals. 

RESOLVE: 

BE IT RESOLVED by and seconded hv that the City 

Council recommends that the United States Department of Transportation select Peninsula 

Airways of Anchorage, Alaska to provide air service to the Northem Maine Regional 

Airport for the next two year contract cycle.