## ATHENS 

# CLARKE COUNTY August 30,2012

Mr. DennisJ. DeVany Chief, Essential Air Service Division, X-53 Office ofAviationAnalysis Department ofTranspmiation, 81 hFloor, Room W86-472 1200NewJerseyAvenue, S.E. Washington, DC20590 

## 30

Re: July 13, 2012LetterRequesting CommentsonEssential Air Servicefor Athens Georgia.

DearMr. DeVany,

Thank you for yourassistance inrequesting proposals for air carriers to provide BAS supported air service to the Athens-Ben Epps Airport. Continuing our cmmection with the National Air Transpmiation Systemis very importantto this community. Ourcitizens havenot only expressed their interest in continuingthe service, but also in improvingthe levels ofserviceprovided.

Since the last contract was issued, the ridership in Athens has steadilydeclined to a point where it must be addressed in order to meet new EAS requirements. Therefore, the Airport Autho1·ity included a requirement that airlines indicate in their proposal how they would increase ridership ifselected. '"

Four airlines submitted proposals to provide EAS subsidized air service to Athens; Seapmi Airlines (Seaport), Airchoice One, SunAir International (SunAir), and SovereignAir, Inc.

Sovereign Air does not have the requisite operating authority from the FAA and therefore was eliminated from consideration.

SunAir, which proposed 22 round trips per week, was "contingentupon being awarded Essential Air Service to Macon, Georgia and confirmation of effective interline e-ticketing with Delta Airlines". As stated in Sun Ai1·'s proposal, they will notifY this community ofsuch approvals. To date, this community has not received such a confirmation. Therefore, Sun Air was eliminated from consideration.

Air Choice One, proposed 

### 18 trips per week to Atlanta, Georgia with either a Cessna Grand Caravan or PiperNavajo at an annual subsidy of$1,896,856. The Athens/Atlanta route has been flown for the past four years and 1;idership has steadily declined over this period. Increased competition from ground shuttle operators and pl'ivately owned vehicles have limited the success ofthis route. Additionally, Air Choice One has no baggage handling agreements at the Atlanta Airpotior interlining agreements with majorcarriers thus minimizingthe opportunity for smooth transfers to connectingflights.

MAYOR NANCY 

### B. DENSON UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OFATIJENS·CLARKE COUNTY' GEORGJASeaport Airlines submitted two service options, both operated with Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft. The first option is 12 round trips per week to Nashville, 1N at an mmual subsidy of $1,553,093, increasing to $1,630,410 in a second year. The second option is 12 weekly round trips to Charlotte International Airport and 6 weekly trips to.Nashville, TN at an annual subsidy of $1,616,887, increasing to $1,697,420 in a second year. Athens, being the home of the University of Georgia, has had success 

### in the past with connecting flights in Charlotte, NC. Convenient connections to major eastcoastcities and international destinations met the needs of both university and business travelers. Also, as Athens is known for its music industry and for being the birthplace of bands such as the B-52's, 

### REM, and Wide Spread Panic, a second connection to the music city ofNashville, 1N may prove a successful 0 & D route. Seaport Airlines has interlining agreements with US Ahways which is the dominant carrier in Charlotte, NC. Baggage handling agreements are in place and Seapm1 tickets are sold on all major ODS systems suchas Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia, etc.

Looking at the numbers, this choice is also fiscally responsible in that it offers 33% more departures for only a 4%increase in subsidy request over option #1. This is also 15% less costly than 

### the bid of Air Choice One, yet offers connections with two large hub airpmts. Lastly, Option #2 only requires a load factor of43% to meet new EAS passenger requirements, while Option#1will require a load factor of66%.

Taking all the above into consideration, the Airpot1 Authority recommended, and I concm·, that Seaport Airlines be awarded the EAS contract for Option #2, Athens/Charlotte and Athens/Nashville. This is the most prudent choice for meeting both the air travel needs ofthis community andprovidingthe opp01tunity to meet future EAS passengerrequirements.

Thank you for your assistance and should you have any questi<:ms, please feel free to contact eithermyselforTim Beggedy, AthensAirport Manager.
Sincerely,

# vz/U~~~**~at~~;** son Mayor

C: Athens Airpot1Authority Seapm1 Airlines Air Choice One Sun Air International SovereignAir