December29,2010

Mr. Dennis DeVany Chief, EAS 

### &DomesticAnalysis U.S. Department ofTransportation Office ofAviation Analysis, X-53 1200 NewJerseyAvenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Via Facsimile: (202) 366-7638 .**~:.'** ., ({ D If.' I, 

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Electronic Mail: Dennis.DeVany@ost.dot.gov Dear Mr. DeVany: On behalfofthe Hall CountyAirport Authority Board, Iwantto thank you for the opportunity to submit our recommendation forair service as part ofthe Essential Air Service program for Grand Island, NE (GRI). The AirportAuthority board was pleased to see five (5) bids from four (4) differentair carriers, including bids from regionaljet providers. On Monday, December20th a special board meeting was called to review and make a recommendation on the bids received. The Hall CountyAirportAuthority Board voted (5-0) to recommend the bid from American Eagle with non-stop regionaljet service to Dallas/FortWorth InternationalAirport (DFW). A copy ofour resolution is enclosed. This recommendation was then brought before the City ofGrand Island City Council on Tuesday, December 28th for approval. The City Council approved the bid from American Eagle with non-stop regional jet service to Dallas/FortWorth International Airport. The Hall CountyAirport Authority is appreciative ofthe five bids received from the four various airlines. The bids from SeaportAirlines were not considered since they did not meetthe fifteen (15) seat aircraft requirement. The Chicago O'Hare bid from SkyWestAirlines was also very popular and would be successful howeverthe AirportAuthority feltthe bid would not be considered bythe Department ofTransportation because ofthe cost ofthe bid. The Airport Authority would like to thank SkyWestAirlines for submitting their bid. The bid from Great Lakes Aviation was the lowest bid SUbmitted. The Airport Authority 3743swotllt!P4ike to thank Great Lakes Aviation for the service provided to GRI for the pasttwo C';!'2nd [';.Iand, j\Jf hS80l

Fox 3()(U8,iS179 FlyGr71ndlslilncLcoll1December 29,2010 Mr. Dennis DeVany Page 2 years. Despite being the lowest bid, the Airport Authority feels Great Lakes Aviation does not offer Grand Island the best solution to accomplish our primary goal of becoming EAS subsidy free. With numerous cancelled flights and an average ofabout 550 enplanements each month it is clear that the market will not improve ifwe continue the service with Great Lakes Aviation. The proposal from American Eagle Airlines is the bid the Airport Authority and the City of Grand Island are recommending to the Department ofTransportation. We believe this option provides a significant improvement in service and supports the Airport Authority's ultimate goal to become subsidy free. American Eagle's recent success in Manhattan, KS and Roswell, NM,taking previously subsidized communities and making them subsidy free speaks for itself. Bringing in regional jet service to a major hub like Dallas/FortWorth International Airport has increased enplanements substantionally to the point ofsubsidy free air service. Columbia, MO has experienced the same with Delta regionaljet services. These communities have responded to the regional jet hub service and we feel strongly that Grand Island has the same potential. The Airport Authority would like to submit the following reasons why the DOT should consider the American Eagle bid: 1) S b 'd

. d U Sl Iy require per :>assenger: American Eagle $57.00 Lowest Great Lakes Aviation $136

.00 SkyWestAirlines $143.00 2) E 

### t' t d A I P sima e nnua assengers: American Eagle 38,856 Highest '-Great Lakes Aviation 14,750

SkyWest Airlines 21,000 3) American Eagle, through Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport connects to 19 of our to 20 destinations: American Ea Ie 

## i 19 Great Lakes**AviatioI1jJO~**____**~** SkyWest Airlines 

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'Factored circuity 4) Non-stop service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is service our surrounding airports do not have. • Kearney
- Denver (EAS)
$ Lincoln
- Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago

### December 29,2010 Mr. Dennis DeVany Page 

### 3 This would increase our enplanements while Kearney, an EAS airport 

### 45 miles west ofGrand Island, would not be competing for the same passengers as we are now. 5) 

### American Eagle's proven success at Manhattan, KS and Roswell, NM of making airports once heavily subsidized into subsidy free airports with a tremendous increase of passengers. 6) 

### The Dallas/FortWorth International Airport experiences less weather related delays than Denver and Chicago. Less delays equates to higher reliability for GRI. In closing, the Airport Authority and the City of Grand Island elected officials are recommending the American Eagle bid to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. With the tremendous growth Grand Island has experienced in population and business, we feel we can support this service. The American Eagle service will help us accomplish our primary goal ofbecoming subsidy free and provide reliable regionaljet service to a major hub connecting us to the national transportation system. We ask the Department ofTransportation to award the bid to American Eagle Airlines with regionaljet service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Sincerely submitted, HALL COUNTY AIRPORTAUTHORITY

Michael J. 

### Olson, 

### ME Executive Director Central Nebraska Regional Airport Enclosure: Resolution 10-72 MJO:ars

### Hall County AirportAuthority December 20,2010 Resolution 10-72 Essential Air Service (EAS) Requestfor Grand Island, NE
AUTHORITY ACTION TAKEN: 

### Resolving that the Hall County AirportAuthority makes the following recommendation to the Department ofTransportation (DOT) for air service for the Central Nebraska Regional Airport underthe Essential Air Service program: American Eagle Airlines to DFW (Dallas/FortWorth) Texas on an Embraer (37-50 seat) Regional Jet and the AirportAuthority agrees to waive the right to hold in American Airlines upon issuance of 120 days noticeto terminate services. 

# t;n4**wern/,~oard** Chair**"~I** I /i

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Michael J.Olson, Executive Director



# ORIGINAL