BOARD OF COMMISS IONERS Kenneth Ma ho ney C hair, Dist rict 1 I
. J o hn Sn ider, I I Vice -C hair, D ist rict 3 Lewis J
. Collin s D istrict 6 Benjam i n Cross D ist ri ct 1 0 Jam es J. Derezins ki Distri ct 4 Ma rvin R
. Engl e Di stri ct 5 Alan W. Jag e r Di st rict 2 Anth ony T. Lo ng mire Di stri ct 8 Scott Pl u mm e r D istri ct 7 Robe rt Sco lni k Di stri ct 11 Rill astin e R
. W i lki ns Di strict 9 

# MUSKEGON COUNTY M 

# c H

September 19, 2011

Mr. Dennis J. DeVany Chief, Essential Air Service Division Office of Aviat ion Analysis U
.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Reference: DOT-OST-2009-0301 Dear Dennis, 

# G 

# A N

The County of Muskegon, Michigan, herein provides its comments regarding the pending proposals of four airlines to provide Muskegon's Essential Air Service (EAS) during 2012 and 2013 cycle
. Our SkyWest 

## I United Express service to Chicago began in early 2010 and initial traffic volumes were low, pri marily due to the lack of an everyday morning originat i ng flight and evening return flight
. Muskegon has a strong business community for which well timed flight schedules are essential. Due to the lack of a morning orig i nating flight and evening return many of these business travelers have far less occasion to use our airport. (/ )

We have repeatedly asked SkyWest for a schedule pattern similar to that offered by the carrier at the other three former Delta markets that SkyWest assumed i n early 2010. The carrier has thus far declined to provide us with that type of schedule pattern, a pattern which would certainly cause our traffic to increase dramatically. Beginning in the summer of 2011, we have been working with the carrier to provide a more consistent schedule, and we have coupled that with a significant local air service marketing program. This SCASD funded marketing effort has caused a dramatic increase in our traffic, with 3,205 passengers on and 

### off in July of 2011, an increase of 23% from the previous July. SkyWest has been a reliable provider of air service and has been generally well-received by the community. We continue to work on issues related to the pricing of our market by SkyWest's partner, United Airlines, as well as acquiring a daily morning originating flight. Despite some of the challenges we 

### face, we believe that SkyWest 

## I United Express offers us the best chance to grow our traffic (hopefully w ith an improved schedule) to the point where we can exit the EAS program in the near future
. MUSKEGON COUNTY AIRPORT

## ~ 7 ' , 99 SINCLAIR DRIVE • MUSKEGON , MICHIGAN 49441 • (231 ) 798-45 96 • FAX (23 1) 798 -7728 WWW.MU S KE GONA IRPORTCO M

An E EO I ADA Employ er r ec

ycle d paper

### Mr. Dennis J. 

### DeVany September 19, 2011 Page 2
Therefore, we endorse SkyWest's bid to provide our essential air service in 2012 and 2013 for $1,112,826 per year. While we appreciate the interest of the other three carriers that bid, none adequately address the air service needs of our community. 

# >- The bid by Air Choice One is proposing 9-seat aircraft, below the EAS programs recommendation. In the interest of securing higher aircraft capacity, we will not seek a waiver to the EAS requirement that service be provided on at least 15- seat twin engine aircraft. 

# >- Sovereign Air does not have the required FAA operating certificates. While this carrier's bid is lower than that of SkyWest, the service proposal itself is flawed, including a 30 minute block time to Chicago and no recognition of the time zone change in the representative schedule. 

# >- The bid by Intrepid International Airlines is proposing one round trip per day on four days per week, which does not meet the community's air service needs or DOT minimum capacity definition at Muskegon. The County of Muskegon endorses the proposal of SkyWest, as their proposal best meets the needs of the community and the established guidelines of the EAS program. Thank you for your consideration of our recommendation. Sincerely,

# /71~ Marty Piette, A.A.E. Airport Manager

C: Bonnie Hammersley, County Administrator

H:\Homan\ AA\Grants\SCASD\EAS 2012\Devany, DOT Recommendation Letter 091911.docx