May 2, 2011

Dennis J. DeVany

Office of Aviation Analysis

US Department of Transportation

400 Seventh Street, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20590

SkyWest Airlines Essential Air Service Proposal for Garden City and Hays, KS.

Dear Mr. DeVany:

Attached is the SkyWest Airlines proposal for service to Garden City and Hays, Kansas. 

Our proposal is to provide direct service from each community to Denver International 

Airport. The service period is for October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2013. 

SkyWest welcomes the opportunity to serve the communities of Garden City and Hays. 

Our combination of safe and reliable aircraft, well-timed schedules, and access to the 

largest airline network in the country will improve the quality of air service and aid in

economic growth of the region.

This proposal is contingent on SkyWest being awarded both markets in order to 

accommodate the allocation of equipment as well as being able to offer optimal 

frequency and schedule.

United Network

One of the most beneficial aspects of this proposal is that it would provide Garden City 

and Hays with true United Express service. United is one of the largest members of the 

Star Alliance networks, providing seamless connections and unparalleled access to nearly 

all parts of the globe. 

Frequency and Schedule

As directed by the RFP, we are proposing daily frequencies that are consistent with the 

historical levels of service. More specifically, current weekly seat count is maintained 

while adjusting for the larger capacity of the Brasilia. This resulted in proposals for 14 

weekly round trips for Hays and 19 for Garden City. 

 
All flights in the proposed schedule have been timed in a way that they arrive and depart 

on bank. This means that they have been optimized for maximum connection 

opportunities in Denver, making the service more convenient for both business and 

leisure travelers. 

Although airline schedules are highly dynamic, our plan is to offer the approximate 

schedule for the two communities: (weekday service shown)

GCK 6:50 7:15 DEN DEN 7:50 10:10 HYS

DEN 11:15 13:30 GCK HYS 10:25 11:00 DEN

GCK 13:45 14:10 DEN DEN 17:20 19:40 HYS

DEN 16:00 18:15 GCK HYS 19:55 20:30 DEN

GCK 18:30 18:55 DEN

DEN 19:25 21:40 GCK

With approximately 400 United or United Express departures per day, Denver 

International Airport offers great connections to the nation and world. In addition to 

being a hub, Denver is also the top destination for both communities.

Superior Aircraft 

Service will be provided with the Embraer Brasilia (EMB-120) 30-seat turboprop aircraft. 

SkyWest is the largest domestic operator of this aircraft type and they have proven to be 

reliable. The aircraft is already available, allowing service to begin without delay. 

All Brasilias come equipped with a lavatory and flight attendant, further adding to the 

comfort and convenience of the flight. Additional details and specifications can be found 

in the Brasilia fact sheet attached to this document. 

Summary

We at SkyWest feel that this proposal provides the best overall option for air service to 

the communities. Given the connectivity at Denver, the well-timed schedule, and 

upgraded equipment, we expect to see growth in the passengers utilizing the service. 

SkyWest is excited about the possible opportunity to again provide reliable air service to 

Garden City and Hays. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Michael Thompson 

Vice President – Market Development

SkyWest Airlines
SkyWest Airlines

Hays, KS 2011-2013

13-May-11

Hays, KS

Denver, CO

Number of round-trips per week 14

Aircraft Type - Embraer Brasilia

Passenger Revenue

Passengers 16,000

Average Fare $ 100.00

Revenue $ 1,600,000

Block Time

Trip block time - Minutes 87

Total scheduled block time 1,810

Total completed block time 98% 1,773

RPMS

Passengers 16,000

Stage Length 297

 4,752,000

ASMs

Scheduled Departures 1,456

Competed Departures 98% 1,427

Stage length 297

Available Seats 30

 12,972,960

Revenue $ 1,600,000

Direct Operating Expenses Blk Hr $ 1,373.00 $ 2,434,889

Flight attendant Blk Hr $ 37.00 $ 65,616

RPM related RPMS $ 0.012 $ 57,024

Departure related Departures $ 333.00 $ 475,151

ASM related ASMS $ 0.034 $ 441,081

$ 3,473,761

Operating income (loss) $ (1,873,761)

5% profit margin $ 173,688

Subsidy requirement $ 2,047,449

SkyWest effective rates per unit

Per trip $ 2,435

Per passenger $ 217

SkyWest cost per block hour $ 1,959

Effective Subsidy rate per unit

Per trip $ 1,435

Per passenger $ 128

SkyWest cost per block hour $ 1,959

Load factor 37%

Average fuel cost per gallon $ 3.60
SkyWest Airlines

Garden City, KS 2011-2013

13-May-11

Garden City, KS

Denver, CO

Number of round-trips per week 19

Aircraft Type - Embraer Brasilia

Passenger Revenue

Passengers 19,000

Average Fare $ 90.00

Revenue $ 1,710,000

Block Time

Trip block time - Minutes 80

Total scheduled block time 1,664

Total completed block time 98% 1,631

RPMS

Passengers 19,000

Stage Length 250

 4,750,000

ASMs

Scheduled Departures 1,976

Competed Departures 98% 1,936

Stage length 250

Available Seats 30

 14,820,000

Revenue $ 1,710,000

Direct Operating Expenses Blk Hr $ 1,373.00 $ 2,238,979

Flight attendant Blk Hr $ 37.00 $ 60,337

RPM related RPMS $ 0.012 $ 57,000

Departure related Departures $ 333.00 $ 644,848

ASM related ASMS $ 0.034 $ 503,880

$ 3,505,043

Operating income (loss) $ (1,795,043)

5% profit margin $ 175,252

Subsidy requirement $ 1,970,295

SkyWest effective rates per unit

Per trip $ 1,810

Per passenger $ 184

SkyWest cost per block hour $ 2,149

Effective Subsidy rate per unit

Per trip $ 1,017

Per passenger $ 104

SkyWest cost per block hour $ 2,149

Load factor 32%

Average fuel cost per gallon $ 3.60
SkyWest Airlines April 2011

SkyWest Airlines is the world’s largest independently-owned regional airline. With a fleet 

of nearly 300 aircraft, SkyWest’s more than 11,000 aviation professionals operate more 

than 1,700 flights each day to 158 destinations throughout North America. As a leading 

air service provider offering global access to millions of people each month, SkyWest 

partners with the world’s largest network carriers including United Airlines, Delta Air 

Lines, AirTran Airways. SkyWest is known for its industry-leading workforce, exceptional 

leadership team, and continued solid operational and economic performance. The airline 

is headquartered in St. George, Utah.

Hubs

Crew domiciles

Maintenance bases

Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, 

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Portland, Salt Lake City and San Francisco

Chicago, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles,

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Palm Springs, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco,

San Luis Obispo, and Tucson 

Chicago, Colorado Springs, Fresno, Milwaukee, Palm Springs, 

Salt Lake City and Tucson

Line stations Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Portland and

San Francisco 

Cities

currently served

Total: 158 (39 States, Washington D.C., 6 Canadian Provinces, 1 City in Mexico)

United: 171 Delta: 83 AirTran: 7 Shared: 80

Stations operated SkyWest: 70

Employees 11,053 total 

8,955 FTE’s

Average number 

of daily scheduled 

departures

United: 1,169 Delta: 503 AirTran: 30 Total: 1702

DEN: 188 IAH: 46 LAX: 143 ORD: 88 PDX: 29 SFO: 139

MSP: 52 SLC: 186 MKE: 29

Passengers 

Carried in 2010

24.3 million passengers

Total revenue 

passenger miles 

flown in 2010

13.2 billion revenue passenger miles*

*A Revenue Passenger Mile is equal to one fare paying passenger flown one mile.

Total aircraft in

operating fleet

296 (All numbers include deliveries and retirements this calendar month)

Embraer aircraft: 46 Embraer 120 turboprops 

Bombardier aircraft: 144 CRJ200 aircraft 

 85 CRJ700 aircraft

 21 CRJ900 aircraft

SKYWEST AIRLINES FACT SHEET APRIL 2011
Eastern

11:00

Central

10:00

Atlantic

NOON

Pacific

8:00

Mountain

Current Route Map

SKYWEST AIRLINES ROUTE MAP EFFECTIVE APRIL 2011 (updated monthly, may not reflect recent service updates)

United - Turbo Prop

AirTran - Rerional Jet

United - Regional Jet

Time Zones

Delta - Turbo Prop

Seasonal

Delta - Regional Jet

St. Louis

Omaha

Milwaukee

Indianapolis Pittsburgh

Des Moines

Toronto

Calgary

Winnipeg

Vancouver

Regina

Tucson

Tulsa

Salt Lake City

Orange County

Sacramento

San Jose

San Francisco

Seattle/Tacoma

San Antonio

San Diego

Reno

Rock Springs

Redmond/Bend Rapid City

Palm Springs

Pasco/Richland/

Kennewick

Phoenix

Portland

Chicago

Ontario

Oklahoma City

Oakland

New Orleans

Minneapolis/St. Paul

Missoula

Minot

Medford

 Memphis

Kansas City

Los Angeles

Las Vegas

Jackson Hole

Idaho Falls

Wichita

Houston 

Helena

Great Falls

Grand Rapids

Grand Junction

Spokane

Gillette

Kalispell

Fresno

Fargo

Eugene

Dallas

Denver

Cincinnati

Casper

Colorado Springs

Cody

Columbus

Cleveland

Bozeman

Burbank

Boise

Bismarck

Billings

Albuquerque

Akron

Victoria

London

Saskatoon

Yuma

Quebec

Ottawa

Edmonton

Northwest Arkansas Knoxville

Traverse City

Syracuse

White Plains

Santa Maria

Springfield

Springfield

San Luis Obispo

South Bend

Santa Barbara

Fort Myers

Raleigh/Durham

Redding

Paducah

North Bend

Norfolk

Montrose

Madison

Monterey

ModestoMammoth Lakes

Moline

Muskegon Saginaw

Midland

Lincoln

Klamath Falls

Little Rock

Lexington

Lansing

Inyokern

Imperial/El Centro

Washington, DC

Huntsville

Hayden/Steamboat Springs

Gunnison

Green Bay

Fort Wayne

Sioux Falls

El Paso

Eagle County

Eau Claire

Detroit

Durango

Duluth

Dayton

Charlotte

Cleveland

Cedar Rapids

Chico

Carlsbad

Wausau

Houghton/Hancock

Crescent City

Birmingham

Bakersfield Asheville

Austin

Aspen

Appleton

Atlanta

Eureka/Arcata

Montreal

Twin Falls

Sun Valley

St. George

Louisville

Rock Springs

Pocatello

Lewiston

La Crosse

Long Beach

Grand Forks

Guadalajara

Elko

Cedar City

Butte

Nashville

Austin
Maximum takeoff weight 26,433 lbs (11,990 kg) 

weights

Maximum range

performance

High cruise speed

speeds

Maximum operating altitude 32,000 ft 9,756 m

ceiling

800 NM (920 SM / 1,482 KM)

315

knots

364

mph

584

km/h

Number 30 

passengers

Number 1800 SHP Pratt & Whitney PW118B 

engines

Length overall 

Wingspan

Height overall

Maximum Cabin height

Cargo Capacity

Fuel Capacity

 (20.0 m)

 (19.80 m)

 (6.35 m)

 (1.70 m)

 (6.3 m)

(3226.5 l)

65 ft 7 in

64 ft 11 in 

20 ft 10 in

 5 ft 9 in

222 cubic feet

875 US gallons

dimensions

Embraer Brasilia Turbo-Prop

Fact Sheet for 

EMB120ER

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Emergency Exits

Emergency Exits

C D B

A

A

C B

Galley

Lavatory

Main Entrance

FORWARD GALLEY AFT GALLEY

11

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Emergency Exit

C B

A

Galley

Lavatory

Main Entrance

Emergency Exits