# City

# of o/isa{ia 

# Office

# Of the:M.ayor

Ai5JEastQakJiven:ue,Ste. 301, '1/isa{ia, CJl 93291 Tel: (559) 713-4512 PaJG (559) 713-4800

AmyShuklian Mayor

StevenA. Nelsen Vice Mayor July31, 2012

Dennis J. DeVany, Chief EssentialAir Service Division, X"'-53· Office ofAviation Analysis DepartmentofTransportation 1200 NewJerseyAvenue, S.E Washington, DC 20590 GregoryF. Collins Re: Order No. 2012-5-11 Councilmember

E. Warren Gubler Councilmember

Bob Link Councilmember Dear Mr. DeVany: Thank you for your correspondence dated July 6, 2012, requesting community comments on Order 2012-5-11. The City ofVisalia appreciates the opportunity to commenton the responses to this order. The Air Service Subcommittee met with representatives of SeaPort airlines to review their proposal and reviewed the proposal of Great ·Lakes Airlines. The subcommittee feels that both proposals offer the community unique benefits. The proposal from Great Lakes airlines offers a proven record and commitment, over the past four (4) years, to offering local travelers destinations that continually improve travel options. The proposal from SeaPortAirlines has some very exciting options as Well. The subcommittee,was particularly·interested in their City Ticket Office and the creation of a Spanish speaking call center. Both of those ideas would have an immediate impact on the number oflocal travelers using the service in Visalia. After a thorough review ofthe merits of both proposals, the subcommittee adopted a motion "Unanimously supporting the proposal by Great Lakes Airlines for Essential Air Service to Visalia" and recommended that the Mayor sign a letter of supportto the DepartmentofTransportation.

.. The continued efforts by Great Lakes to acquire gate space at LAX were finally successful in May 2011 and as a result, the City ofVisalia has enjoyed a marked increase in passenger totals. In addition to the increase in passengers over the past year, we have seen an increase in the number oftravelers using the service for connecting.travel, with an estimated 50% of local passengers connecting through Los Angeles to destinations beyond. The solicitation of comments specifically asks the communities to address the issue ofthe high per passenger subsidy amounts. Using the proposed subsidy amount and the increase in····· Mr. pennis DeVany



### ...July 31,2012

Re: Order No. 2012-5-11 Page2

passengers overthe last 12 months, Great Lakes has been able to reduce the per passengersubsidy by 28% overthe pastyear. Additionally, discussions with Great Lakes indicate the likelihood ofa third daily trip to LAX in the coming year. Adding an additional flight will increase frequency and reliability ofthe connecting service and have adirect irnpact on customer confidence and help to grow the service and

. . . ' further reduce the per passengersubsidy.
The City would urge Great Lakes airlines to consider adopting some of the community focused elements that SeaPort uses. They have a proven record of succeeding in the smaller EAS markets that they have gone into. However, the proposal by SeaPort Airlines proposes service by a single engine, 9 passenger aircraft. The local travelers have repeatedly expressed serious concerns about flying on the smaller, non-jet aircraft and we doubt that the local travelers would utilize the service with the proposed aircraft. Additionally, SeaPort's proposal is over $150,000 more forthe Visalia service and does not propose service to a large hub airport. Both of these elements preclude the City of Visalia from supporting theirproposal atthis time. The City of Visalia appreciates the Essential Air Service program and the opportunity it offers the community to continue to have air service. Providing air service is an importantaspectofoureconomic developmentefforts, and is also key to our long-term alternativetransportation and airqualityobjectives. Respectfully,

# A~~ Amy Sh.uklian Mayor