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February 17,2011 

GOBIERNO DE PUERTO RIco 

MUNCIPIO Aur6NOMO DE PONCE 

LegisCatura :Municipa{ 

APARTADO 331709 

PONCE, PUERTO RICO 00733-1709 

US Department of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

%fiJono (787) 841-1515 

By email to: Kevin.adams@dot.gov 

Dear Mr. Adams: 

We hereby petition the Department of Transportation for review of their order under the 

Department's Aviation Economic Regulations, In4 CFR 385.50, to terminate the present Cape 

Air EAS service to the Mercedita Airport in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Without the continuance of 

the ESA subsidy Cape Air would unable to continue the Ponce service, leaving residents and 

businesses in Ponce without any scheduled air service to San Juan. 

We are residents of Ponce, Puerto Rico and utilize the Cape Air Flights from Ponce to San 

Juan on a regular basis. There are many reasons for us choosing this means of travel: 

1. Puerto Rico is unique in qualifying for Essential Air Service inclusion. Unlike the 

continental United States, the only form of travel from Puerto Rico to other points 

within the country is by airplane. It is impossible to leave Puerto Rico by car, train, 

passenger boat or bus. 

2. There is NO public transportation between Ponce and San Juan. 

3. The drive during morning or evening rush hours is more than 3 hours for the 75 mile 

trip. 

4. There are 2 Jet Blue flights from Ponce, but restrict direct travel to either Orlando or 

NYC, requiring additional transfers, ticketing and wait time. 

5. The Jet Blue flights require us to travel hours to a hub, when one is but 20 minutes 

away. As an example; to fly to neighboring St. Thomas we have to fly to Orlando -

then San Juan - then St Thomas or worse yet via Philadelphia??? 
Cape Air ESA subsidy 

6. Driving to the airport at this darkened hour restricts those senior citizens who suffer 

from night blindness, making our travel prohibited by a physical disability. 

7. Flying from Ponce restricts our airline selection to traveling Jet Blue, while in San Juan 

we can choose from American, Continental, Delta and United, among others. 

8. Cape Air is acting as commuter airline, connecting with other major airlines. 

By eliminating the Cape Air flights the DOT is, in effect, terminating EAS service to Ponce as 

the substitution of Jet Blue service does not meet the requirements of Public Law 100-223 

including (e) "flights at reasonable times taking into account the needs of passengers with 

connecting flights". Cape Air PSE-SJU-PSE transported over 9 thousands passengers in 2010 

maintaining ready access to the National air transportation system. The company has invested 

initially over a half million dollars in their operations including a complete refurbishing of their 

terminal space in Ponce and hiring eight local Ponce residents to serve the community. 

The Ponce community needs and is statutorily entitled to reliable uninterrupted air service. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

c 

~~3~ Th6res~ent and Members of the Municipal Legislature of the Autonomous Municipality of 

Ponce, Puerto Rico.