BEFORE THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Docket OST – 2012 - 0069

Proposal For A Grant Under The

Small Community Air Service 

Development Program

Submitted by

Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority (Legal Sponsor)

DUNS # 04-512-2447

Congressional District IL 15

EIN/TIN 37-0903859
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

2

Proposal Directory

Proposal Summary.......................................................................................................... 4

Grant Requested ...........................................................................4

BMI Has An Active Public/Private Partnership for Improved Air Service.4

Official Legal Project Sponsor ..........................................................5

Local Community Name: ................................................................5

Outline Of The BMI Air Service Market ........................................................................... 6

Loss of AirTran = Significant Lost Traffic & Much Higher Fares................................... 7

Benefits of This Grant.....................................................................9

Plan for Grant Implementation ...................................................................................... 10

Target Carriers ........................................................................................................... 10

Airline Contacts ...........................................................................10

Risk Abatement Funding...............................................................10

Marketing and Advertising Program ...............................................11

Funding Distribution.....................................................................13

Ensuring Self - Sufficiency ............................................................13

Summary of BMI Air Service Recruitment Efforts.......................................................... 14
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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Proposal Outline

Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington/Normal (BMI) is requesting a grant in the 

amount of $500,000, to be matched with $150,000 in hard community contribution, plus

$50,000 in-kind support, to address the lack of access from the region to the US Northeast.

This deficiency imposes a hardship on the economic community served by BMI. BMI is at the 

center of a strong agribusiness based economy that includes three Fortune 100 companies –

State Farm, ADM and Caterpillar as well as Country Financial (Fortune 1000) and its sister 

organizations Growmark and Illinois Farm Bureau. Additionally higher education, with Illinois 

State University and Illinois Wesleyan in Normal and Bloomington and other major universities 

in the area, is also an important economic generator. Together with a vibrant automotive and 

industrial base in the region, these organizations have a demonstrable need for access to New 

York and Washington, DC. 

The Airport is fully cognizant of the fragile and shifting nature of the airline industry. Indeed, 

BMI has recently been a major victim of such shift, with the decision by Southwest to 

discontinue AirTran service, cutting out service that represented 42% of the total traffic at the 

airport.1

It is for this reason that the community asks the Department’s indulgence in allowing this 

application to be aimed at alleviating the deficiency in air service to the Northeast, with 

flexibility of supporting service to the airports in the New York Metro and Washington, DC area. 

The extreme uncertainties regarding the final outcomes of Delta’s NYC strategy – shifting 

capacity between JFK and LGA – not to mention the American Airlines “Cornerstone” strategy 

which appears to have the intent to add significant branded flying to JFK.

In addition, US Airways is still fine-tuning its new hub at Washington/Reagan, and United 

apparently is shifting resources from its Houston Intercontinental hub, and may be increasing 

service at Washington/Dulles.

The fundamentals of this application are straight-forward. CIRA will provide a risk-abatement 

program to a carrier that can provide the access outlined in this application, along with 

marketing support to assure success of the service.

The Airport and the Community, as mentioned above, are coming off a period when changes in 

the airline industry have dealt a very heavy and negative blow to the region. The grant funding 

requested will be a major step in getting air access in Central Illinois back on track.

The Airport and the Community appreciate the Department’s consideration of this application.

Correspondence: Mr. Carl Olson

Executive Director – Central Illinois Regional Airport

3201 CIRA Drive 

Bloomington, Illinois 61704

(309) 663 7384

 

1

It is noted that this cut was made despite the carrier’s representation to the US DOT that existing AirTran cities 

would not be affected by the proposed merger.
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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Proposal Summary

Grant Requested

The Central Illinois Regional Airport is requesting a grant in the amount of $500,000 to attract 

and support the establishment of new air service that will address both capacity deficiencies 

and high fares at BMI.

In particular, it is the lack of nonstop access to the US Northeast that the region needs and can 

support. This deficiency has recently been exacerbated by the departure of AirTran Airways 

from the BMI market.

There is a pressing business need for additional capacity to the Northeast. The preferred option 

is for service to the Washington, DC area, but the community understands that airline strategies 

may dictate that New York is a stronger possibility.

The approach in this grant is simple and straight forward. The majority of the funding will be 

set aside as a risk-guarantee for the carrier. The remainder will be to market the new service to 

assure rapid traffic build.

Air Service Risk Offset: $550,000

Marketing In CIRA Region $100,000

In-Kind Marketing $ 50,000

Total: $700,000

The airline risk offset will be consistent with others that the SCASD Program has made 

successful in the past decade. Agreed cost factors on a per flight basis will be determined. A 

revenue allocation for the route – including local O&D as well as the system flow traffic that the 

new BMI service generates – will be applied to these costs. At pre-set intervals in the two-year 

program period, preferably each six months, settlement will be made with the air carrier. If 

revenues meet or exceed projected costs, no risk-offset is payable. 

BMI Has An Active Public/Private Partnership for Improved Air Service

CIRA was one of the nation’s fastest-growing airports between 1994 and 2011, with 

enplanements moving from approximately 50,000 per year to over 291,000 – almost 500%. The 

reasons are a vibrant economy, and a very active community-focused air service development 

program. But this growth has still left the region with a number of air service deficiencies, the 

most severe being access to the Northeast.

This is one of the reasons that the application of the Central Illinois Regional Airport represents 

a valid use of the scarce funding allocated. Subsequent to the announced loss of 

AirTran/Southwest, the community went into action and was successful in recruiting two new 

airlines. Allegiant entered the market with service to Orlando, and Frontier was recruited, with 
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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flights to that carrier’s western hub at Denver. The next stringent need for this region of the 

State is access to the Northeastern US.

This proposal is intended to fill the remaining major gap in BMI service, which is access to the 

important business region of the Northeastern United States.

Official Legal Project Sponsor

The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority is the official sponsor in submitting this application.

Local Community Name:

The Community Air Service Initiative (CASI), an independent organization working under the 

Chamber of Commerce and whose members are comprised of municipalities, corporate entities, 

educational institutions and small to medium sized local business entities across the region, will 

be the community partner. Recognizing the reduced capacity and access yet higher fare 

environment created by Southwest’s November 11, 2011 decision to discontinue AirTran service 

in the market in June 2012, CASI was officially formed to respond proactively to these air 

service issues. Structure for this initiative was deemed necessary to respond and act cohesively 

as a community with one voice and shared resources.

This organization’s members are prepared to actively participate in this grant award much in the 

same manner as the (pre-CASI formation) community entities and corporate partners 

responded for the 2008 SCASD grant award to BMI for American to DFW service. This involves 

not only a financial commitment by the CASI group for risk abatement but a commitment to 

assist in the marketing and promotion efforts and build direct relationships with the airline to 

maximize the utilization of the new service.

CASI is fully funded and in operation specifically to expand service at Bloomington-Normal with 

agreements in place with its members.
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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Outline Of The BMI Air Service Market

BMI draws on an overall catchment area of approximately 1.8 million in population. Current 

service patterns allow strong access to the West, but due to changes in the airline industry, 

consumers and business travelers have only access over Detroit (Delta) and Chicago (American) 

to get access to the East Coast.

It is obvious from the map that, while BMI has good access to the west (and internationally as 

well), there is a lack of service access to the East/Northeast.

The Detroit (Delta) and Chicago (American) connectivity to the East is materially hampered by 

very high load factors on these routes –

At over 75% - there are key days and times of year when the capacity to these hubs simply 

deters access to connecting points in the East. A nonstop flight to an Eastern hub will alleviate 

this problem.
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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In addition, the demand for service to the East Coast has been rising along with the total traffic 

at CIRA...

Analyses accomplished by the Airport indicate that lack of available capacity to the East is 

deterring not only local traffic generation, but also in-bound generation from that region as 

well.

Loss of AirTran = Significant Lost Traffic & Much Higher Fares

A main impetus of this application is to recruit service that will replace the traffic to the 

Northeast that will be lost with the end of AirTran service effective June 2, 2012. AirTran, a low 

cost carrier, captured double-digit shares of traffic between BMI and important Northeast 

destinations, albeit via a circuitous routing over Atlanta, and in doing so, maintained fare 

discipline in the markets. Year 2011 data illuminate the challenge BMI now faces:

Market Psgr Mkt Share Avg Fare Net OW Fare

DCA 3,174 20.7% $220.22 $185.47

LGA 5,697 41.8% $195.38 $162.40

Total 8,871 30.7% $204.19 $170.58

DCA 8,395 54.8% $179.61 $147.72

IAD 2,736 56.5% $190.82 $158.16

LGA 5,465 40.1% $173.22 $141.75

Total 16,596 49.1% $179.34 $147.46

DCA 3,740 24.4% $181.30 $149.30

IAD 2,100 43.3% $183.35 $151.21

LGA 2,462 18.1% $176.75 $145.06

Total 8,302 24.6% $180.44 $148.50

AirTran

American

Delta
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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With the elimination of competition from AirTran, it is a certainty that fares will go up, 

and the load factors on already near-full connection routes to DTW and ORD will 

increase. Delta has advised that they have insufficient aircraft to replace any of the lost 

ATL traffic.2

An idea of the effects on BMI, and the need for this grant, can be illustrated by a 

review of capacity shifts at BMI comparing the second half of 2012 v the same period in 

2011.

Carrier Hub 2011 2012 % Change 2011 2012 % Change

American 704 709 0.7% 32,986 32,984 0.0%

DFW 185 184 -0.5% 9,250 9,200 -0.5%

ORD 519 525 1.2% 23,736 23,784 0.2%

Delta 1,400 1,134 -19.0% 87,182 66,196 -24.1%

ATL 846 586 -30.7% 59,462 38,796 -34.8%

DTW 326 322 -1.2% 16,320 16,100 -1.3%

MSP 228 226 -0.9% 11,400 11,300 -0.9%

Frontier 174 19,470

DEN 106 10,494

MCO 68 8,976

AirTran 642 -100.0% 75,114 -100.0%

ATL 544 -100.0% 63,648 -100.0%

MCO 98 -100.0% 11,466 -100.0%

Allegiant 53 7,950

SFB 53 7,950

Total 2,746 2,070 -24.6% 195,282 126,600 -35.2%

Departures Seats

With the loss of AirTran – a decision made by Southwest despite high load factors 

and yields that exceeded the AirTran system average – CIRA has now lost 35% of 

seats available to the public. This is a major blow to the community and one which will lead 

to higher fares, particularly to the destinations on the East Coast, where AirTran held strong 

market shares.

These data show clearly that recruiting replacement capacity to access the East 

Coast is critical to the community and the region.

 

2

Source: Aviation DataMiner analysis of DOT data. Fares are average one-way, including federal fees and taxes.
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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Benefits of This Grant

The Central Illinois Regional Airport would submit that this grant application fits the 

requirements outline in the Docket.

 Major Air Service Deficiency: The loss of AirTran, despite its healthy traffic and 

revenue performance, has resulted in a material reduction in access to the East Coast, 

and has caused a net reduction of over 130,000 annual seats. 

 Fares: AirTran’s presence has kept fares down at BMI. The elimination of that carrier 

from the BMI market will now cause the cost of travel to skyrocket. While the proposed 

service this grant supports will not entirely replace AirTran in the market, it will have a 

disciplinary effect on ticket prices by adding more capacity directly to the East Coast.

Based on this, the Airport and the Community respectfully would ask for positive consideration 

of this grant request.
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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Plan for Grant Implementation

The goal of this grant application is to bring urgently needed access to the East Coast. The 

removal of AirTran is a high-fare torpedo heading directly toward the economy of Central 

Illinois.

Target Carriers

This application focuses on recruiting a carrier for nonstop service to a major East Coast Airport, 

specifically:

 New York/LaGuardia – Delta

 New York/JFK – Delta, American, JetBlue

 Newark – United

 Washington/National – Frontier

 Washington/National – US Airways

 Washington/Dulles – United

Note that this is not a “fishing expedition” aimed blindly at just “getting flights.” Market brand 

presence and/or a connecting hub at the destination airports are a critical component of the 

Airport’s air service strategy.

Airline Contacts

The Airport and the Community Air Service Initiative have been in active contact with each of 

the airline systems noted above. It is again noted that conditions in the airline industry are 

difficult, with fuel prices increasing, small jets being retired, and fleets being reduced in size.

However, immediately upon grant award, the Airport and Community will contact the target 

carriers, outlining the program and providing additional data on how the grant will support their 

carrier, and the system revenue results specific to the carrier.

Risk Abatement Funding

The structure of the Risk Abatement contract is envisioned as follows:

 An agreed-upon target revenue per flight to be negotiated with the carrier, based upon 

the carrier’s specific aircraft to be operated.

 There will be a specific format for calculating all revenues - passenger, cargo and 

ancillary - generated by the new service. This includes the local O&D revenue, plus the 

BMI segment’s portion of system connecting traffic revenue. 
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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 The computation of revenue v costs will be computed monthly and the airline will 

provide the Community with advance booking reports and previous month’s traffic and 

revenue results every thirty days. This will facilitate any necessary marketing activities 

that may be needed to assure the success of the route.

 The settlement for the revenue guarantee is envisioned to be accomplished every six 

months

 Reliability will be a key part of the agreement. The schedule completion rates will be set 

at 98%, exclusive of non-controllable causes, such as maintenance and weather. The 

Airport will seek the right to withhold risk abatement funds if the new service 

consistently falls short of this standard.

Progress reports will be provided to the Department on a schedule and in a format it deems 

appropriate.

Marketing and Advertising Program

The Airport and Community intend to embark on an aggressive advertising and public 

awareness program immediately upon successfully gaining an airline commitment to provide the 

new year-round air service. The Airport would note that the majority of the traffic to East Coast 

points originates in the CIRA catchment area – well over 70%. Therefore the majority of the 

consumers to which the new service has value are in the cost-effective CIRA media region.

A fully integrated marketing plan will be executed that will encompass the full spectrum of 

marketing components, including:

 Media/public relations activities and efforts to announce and promote the new service to 

the community and through the local media

o Press conferences with CASI/airline/airport participation to announce the new 

service, generate the initial awareness and promote the new service to the 

community

o Media “tour” in the community by the airline/airport and CASI for on air 

interviews during scheduled local programs with local television/radio/print.

o Event marketing at Business to Business events such as Chamber Business 

Before Hours/Business After Hours

o Presentations at key civic organizations in the community to review the air 

service available at Central Illinois Regional Airport and highlight new service

o Airport/Airline/CASI to host a specific event for the key travel generators in the 

area that can most benefit from the new service to promote the airline’s sales 

initiatives and programs geared to business travel
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

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Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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o Outreach to specific travel generators – business and leisure (travel 

agents/secondary and higher education athletic teams and groups/senior and 

civic organizations) through Airline/Airport/CASI collaborative direct visits to the 

generators to review opportunities and structure for best use of the new service 

o Airport will collaborate with Convention and Visitors Bureau for new destination 

to enhance promotional ideas that would attract tourism to new destination, 

complementing the increased business travel demand for the new service with 

leisure travelers

 Broadcast media, print, outdoor and online advertising illuminating the new service, as 

well as the range of total air service options available at Central Illinois Regional Airport.

o Radio in-kind is a key element of this proposal as the radio group providing the 

in-kind is also a CASI member

o Social media initiatives through the airport/airline and CASI based social media 

sites – engaging the community and region in discussing the new service 

through interaction and cross-promoting across several sites.

o Targeted direct mail as appropriate to key travel generators in the region

o Other media advertising will be programmed based on remaining budget and 

timing of new service start date. (Example: television advertising may be 

financially prohibitive during specific times of the year so more emphasis would 

be placed on online, outdoor or print)

Promotional program specifics will be determined jointly with the airline. It will, however, be 

managed and directed by the airport in cooperation with the community.
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

___________________________________________________________________

Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

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Funding Distribution

Source Risk-Offset Marketing Total Value

Grant $500,000 $0 $500,000 

Community $50,000 $50,000 (in kind) $100,000 

Airport $100,000 $100,000 

Total Value $550,000 $150,000 $700,000 

Ensuring Self - Sufficiency

CIRA understands the dynamics of the airline industry, and is prepared, along with its 

community partners to assure that the new service rapidly gains economic sustainability.

Traffic shortfalls are not anticipated. However there is a plan to address such situations:

1) CIRA has a track record of innovative, successful marketing programs to enhance ridership. 

In the past these have included radio-station promotions at the Airport, intensified media 

placement, and laser-focused marketing at key employers in the region.

2) Direct liaison with the target carrier is a part of the marketing program. This has been found 

to provide and early warning system when traffic to a key destination begins to fall, or when 

the airline starts to have operational problems that could affect ridership.

3) CIRA maintains constant traffic and operational statistics with all of its carriers. This allows it 

to pro-actively take advantage of market opportunities. Part of this program is monitoring 

fares and capacity at other airports in the region and working with incumbent carriers to 

assure that they can address any strategic threats which may result in loss of traffic.

The Airport will have available, if needed and as appropriate under its governance, additional 

airport related cost waivers and marketing incentives for the airline to access in return for some 

identified incentive effort by the carrier. Added Airport incentives can be applied in return for a 

carrier initiative such as a reduction in business fares or introduction of new Group airfares for 

meetings.
Proposal under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket 2012-0069

___________________________________________________________________

Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

14

Summary of BMI Air Service Recruitment Efforts

The Central Illinois regional airport has been an industry leader in effective air service 

recruiting. This is the reason that traffic has expanded from 50,000 enplanements to over 

291,000 since 1996.

 In 1996, CIRA recruited the first low fare airlines to the region, with Frontier to Denver 

and AirTran to Orlando. Frontier dropped the market four years later due to equipment 

issues. During that time, CIRA had grown over 40%.

 Working with AirTran, service was expanded to that carrier’s Atlanta hub, opening the 

region to the Deep South.

 Capitalizing on 2008 SCASD grant, the airport successfully filled an air service gap to the 

US Southwest, providing marketing funds to support American Eagle service to DFW. In 

those efforts, the community used only approximately half of the SCASD grant, 

returning the remainder to the Department. This service has proven to be very 

successful, with the highest load factors of any Downstate Illinois market served from 

DFW by American Eagle.

 CIRA also recruited Delta Air Lines, giving additional access to Florida and the South, but 

also to that carrier’s vast international gateway. This was important to key industries in 

the region which had extensive operations in Europe, Northern Mexico, and Latin 

America.

 When Southwest made the sudden decision to stop AirTran service, CIRA in short order 

recruited Allegiant, with service to Orlando-Sanford. 

 Identifying a need for additional access to the West and Southwest, CIRA in 2012 

recruited service by Frontier Airlines to that carrier’s Denver hub. Unlike the service in 

1996, the new flights are nonstop to the hub and offer very strong connectivity.

The efforts and community participation that made these past efforts successful will be applied 

to the flights that this grant will underwrite.
APPENDIX C

 Page 1

SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

DOCKET OST-2012-0069

SUMMARY INFORMATION

All applicants must submit this information with their proposal, along with a completed form SF424 on http:// 

www.grants.gov. 

A. APPLICANT INFORMATION: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

⁭ Not a Consortium ⁭ Interstate Consortium ⁭ Intrastate Consortium

⁭ Community now receives EAS subsidy

⁭ Community (or Consortium member) previously received a Small Community Grant

If previous recipient: Date of Grant: 09/19/2008 Expiration date of grant: 12/31/2010

Federal Funds Requested: Awarded $225,000 for Marketing Support for New Service

Carrier(s) Service Obtained: American Eagle 

Destination(s) Served: Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW)

B. PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: (LIST ORGANIZATION NAMES)

Public Private

1. Community Air Service Initiative(CASI) 1. McLean County Chamber of Commerce

 2. City of Bloomington 2.Corporate and institutional partners as CASI members 

 3. Town of Normal 3.______________________________________

 4. McLean County 4.______________________________________

 5.__________________________________ 5.______________________________________

C. PROJECT PROPOSAL: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

⁭ Marketing ⁭ Upgrade Aircraft ⁭ New Route

⁭ Travel Bank ⁭ Service Restoration Subsidy

⁭ Surface Transportation ⁭ Regional Service Revenue Guarantee ⁭

Launch New Carrier Start Up Cost Offset First Service

Study ⁭ Secure Additional Carrier Other (explain below)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
 APPENDIX C

 Page 2

⁭

D. EXISTING LANDING AIDS AT LOCAL AIRPORT:

⁭ Full ILS ⁭ Outer/Middle Marker ⁭ Published Instrument Approach

⁭ Localizer ⁭ Other (specify) GPS

E. PROJECT COSTS: DO NOT ENTER TEXT IN SHADED AREA

LINE DESCRIPTION SUB TOTAL TOTAL AMOUNT

1 Federal amount requested $500,000

2 State cash financial contribution

Local cash financial contribution

3a Airport cash funds $100,000

3b Non-airport cash funds $50,000

3 Total local cash funds (3a +3b) $150,000

4 TOTAL CASH FUNDING (1+2+3) $650,000

In-Kind contribution

5a Airport In-Kind contribution**

5b Other In-Kind contribution** $50,000

5 TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION

(5a + 5b)

$50,000

6 TOTAL PROJECT COST (4+8) $700,000

F. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS**

For funds in lines 5a (Airport In-Kind contribution) and 7b (Other In-Kind contribution), please describe the 

source(s) of fund(s) for each.

5b Great Plains Media Inc. (radio group) 108 Boeykens Place, Normal, IL 61761
APPENDIX C

 Page 3

G. IS THIS APPLICATION SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY STATE UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 12372 

PROCESS?

⁭ a. This application was made available to the State under the Executive Order 12372 Process for review on

(date)___________________.

⁭ b. Program is subject to E.O. 12372, but has not been selected by the State for review.

⁭ c. Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.

H. IS THE APPLICANT DELINQUENT ON ANY FEDERAL DEBT? (IF “YES”, PROVIDE EXPLANATION)

⁭ No ⁭ Yes (explain) 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON 

15TH DISTRICT, ILLINOIS 

AGRICULTURE 

CHAIRMAN, RuRAL DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH, 

BIOTECHNOLOGY, AND FOREIGN AGRICULTURE 

DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS OF 

OVERSIGHT AND CREDIT 

TRANSPORTATION AND 

INFRASTRUCTURE 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC 

BUILDINGS, AND EMERGENCY 

MANAGEMENT 

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT 

WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT 

Ms. Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

~ongrrss of tbr Wnitrb $tatrs 

j!}ou~e of l\epresentatibe~ 

m?ltlasbtngton. tJB<tC 20515-1315 

June 8, 2012 

Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) 

1200 New Jersey Avenue Southeast 

W86-310 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Docket OST 2012-0069; Bloomington Normal Airport Authority 

Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington, Illinois 

Dear Ms. Ley, 

REPLY TO: 

WASHINGTON OFFICE: 

D 1207 LoNGWORTH HousE OFFICE BUILDING 

WASHINGTON, DC 20515 

D 

D 

D 

D 

(202} 225-2371 

DISTRICT OFFICES: 

2004 Fox DRIVE 

CHAMPAIGN, ll 61820 

(217} 403-4690 

202 NORTH PROSPECT ROAD 

SUITE 203 

BLOOMINGTON, ll 61704 

(309} 663-7049 

655 WEST LiNCOLN 

UNITS 

CHARLESTON, ll 61920 

(217} 348-6759 

1001 MARKET STREET 

SUITE 102 

MOUNT CARMEL, IL 62863 

(618} 262-8719 

The Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) is critical to the regional economy of downstate Illinois. This 

airport has been a vital transportation link for employees of Fortune 100 and Fortune 1000 companies, 

students at state and private universities, and countless families. 

On June 2, 2012, Southwest Airlines discontinued all AirTran Airways service from BMI resulting in the 

abrupt loss of more than thirty-five percent ofthe daily seat capacity at the airport. The departure of 

these routes along with the consolidation of competing airlines compromises the access and fare 

competition that is necessary to maintain and grow central Illinois' economy, particularly to primary 

Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern markets. 

The Community Air Service Initiative (CASI) is a non-airport community-based initiative created to 

attract new service to central Illinois through BMI. Building on the local success of previous publicprivate partnerships, CASI is prepared to responsibly administer this award to attract badly needed 

eastbound service and generate a return on federal resources. 

The central Illinois region is continuously responding to new challenges presented to it. A positive award 

from your office empowers the community to continue battling back against a strained economic 

climate while responsibly managing federal resources. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

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