March I, 2014

Kevin Schlemmer, Chief

Essential Air Service Division

Office of Aviation Analysis

United States Department of Transportation

400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 64171

Washington, D.C. 20590

NORTHERN MAINE REGIONAL AIRPORT

Subject: Airline Schedule at PQI

Dear Mr. Schlemmer:

Please find attached a copy of an airline schedule developed by our air service consultant.

This schedule is similar to that used by Colgan Air dba US Airways Express for the

majority of their 11 year tenure at PQI before leaving the market in June of20l2. The

recommended schedule seeks to address the significant decline in boardings of 20% and

several complaints received by the local business community. These complaints stem

from the significant shortening of the airline operational day by Pen Air. We would

encourage Pen Air to provide an Essential Air Service proposal to USDOT that

incorporates this revised schedule.

Shortly after entering the Presque Isle and Plattsburg markets, Pen Air made the decision

to not overnight two crews in the out stations. Having the same crew that flew in the

night before fly the first flight the next morning became standard operating procedure. In

order to meet crew rest requirements, the first departure in the morning for PQI moved

from 6:00 AM to 8:45 AM. In addition, the last arrival at night was moved from 9:10

PM to 8:15PM.

Over the last 10 years, the role that Boston Logan plays as a regional air transportation

hub has changed significantly. Many of the airports in the New England region no longer

use Logan as a mini hub. Instead, Boston Logan operates very much like an O&D

airport. For example both Portland and Bangor, no longer have direct service to Boston.

They instead fly directly to the respective hubs of the airlines that serve them. None of

the legacy carriers with which. Pe!!.~ir h~.llIl. interline agreement have Boston Logan as

one of their hubs. ThereforeifuliiY'~f,J~ose'cdfltleBting out ofPQI are required to fly to a

hub from Boston only to catch,i,l1!Qth~;f1ightto\th~r final destination. In addition,

connecting to airlines located hi termliill1s othetlliiin TeIJ:TlU:la:i' B requires the passenger

to go through security a secomltime. TI1is;~44~to)he tilii6"requirement to make a

connc:cti~n. Give? the .added.s~oll~~~.!~~~fi;O?~~~ip,"~ qpJio~ to avoid the time loss

of switching termmals 10Boston;"lt IS lniperativ~tilg1V~'ih~b:usmess traveler an early

650 Airport Drive. Suite 11, Presque Isle, ME 04769

Phone: 207-764-2550 • FAX: 207-764-2551

www.FlyPresquelsle.com

An Equal Opportunity Employer
departure of 6:00 AM out of PQI and a late arrival into PQI of 10:10 PM. Under the

current schedule, the business traveler must leave the day before any moming meetings

and return aday later after any afternoon meetingS. In short he can not reach even the

largest business markets on the East Coast by 9:00 am and have a full day of meetings

and make it back home the same day.

I thank you for your time. If you have any questions, feel free to give a call at (207) 764-

2550.

Best Regards,

M~

Scott Wardwell

AiIport Director

Cc: Michael F. Martin
Here isthe "ideol" PQI-BOSschedule developed by Sixel Consulting:

KS124

KS126

KS128

KS125

KS127

KS129

PQI

6:00

11:00

16:30

BOS

8:50

14:00

20:30

BOS

7:40

12:40

18:10

PQI

10:30

15:40

22:10

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