### BEFORE THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C.

Ninety Day Notice of

MESABA AVIATION, INC. and PINNACLE AIRLINES, INC.

of termination of service at Pierre, SD

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 323 Docket OST-2011-

NINETY-DAY NOTICE OF
TERMINATION OF SERVICE

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

Megan Rae Rosia Vice President, Government Affairs
PINNACLE AIRLINES CORP. 1689 Nonconnah Blvd., Suite 111 Memphis, TN 38132 (202) 965-4889 mrosia@pncl.com Maximillian T. Shemesh
General Counsel MESABA AIRLINES, INC. 1000 Blue Gentian Road, Suite 200 Eagan, MN 55121 (651) 637-5218 Max.Shemesh@mesaba.com

Dated: July 15, 2011

Note: Objections to this Notice are due on August 4, 2011.

### BEFORE THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C.

Ninety Day Notice of

MESABA AVIATION, INC. and PINNACLE AIRLINES, INC.

of termination of service at Pierre, SD

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 323 Docket OST-2011-

NINETY-DAY NOTICE OF
TERMINATION OF SERVICE

Pursuant to Part 323 of the Department of Transportation’s Regulations (14

C.F.R. Part 323), Mesaba Aviation, Inc. (“Mesaba”), and Pinnacle Airlines, Inc.

(“Pinnacle”), each a certificated carrier, hereby give notice of intent to discontinue the

current service provided at Pierre, SD, effective October 13, 2011.

Mesaba and/or Pinnacle provide service to the community, operating on a feefor-service basis as “Delta Connection” carriers. Delta has notified Mesaba and

Pinnacle that Delta can no longer economically continue this service. Delta is in the

process of retiring all turboprop and numerous small jet aircraft operated by Mesaba and

Pinnacle. All of the Saab 340 aircraft operated by Mesaba for Delta Connection will be

retired by year end. Delta has notified Mesaba and Pinnacle that high fuel costs and low

passenger demand further necessitate the filing of this notice. We understand that

Great Lakes Airlines intends to submit a bid should the Department issue a request for

proposals to select an EAS carrier.

### Ninety Day Notice Page 

### 2

Mesaba and Pinnacle are commonly owned by Pinnacle Airlines Corp. The

carriers are jointly filing this notice because, as Mesaba’s Saab aircraft are retired, some

markets may need to be back-filled by Pinnacle-operated regional jets until a

replacement carrier is selected. With the Department’s permission, Pinnacle is currently

providing substitute service in select Mesaba EAS markets. This notice is intended to

cover all Pinnacle/Mesaba service at Pierre, regardless of which carrier may be

providing service during the transition period. In the event the Department requires a

hold-in, the carriers request that Mesaba and/or Pinnacle be authorized to provide the

service, and that the Department set reasonable and fully compensatory rates based on

the use of CRJ aircraft, which are the only aircraft available to provide continued service.

The discontinuation of service would appear to cause service to drop below the

EAS guarantee levels established by the Department. Great Lakes Airlines, in addition

to Mesaba/Pinnacle, are the carriers currently providing service. Complete schedules

including routes, arrival and departure times, equipment types, and operating carrier(s)

are listed in Exhibit A.

Respectfully Submitted,

____________________________ Megan Rae Rosia Vice President, Government Affairs Pinnacle Airlines Corp. _______________________ Maximillian T. Shemesh
General Counsel Mesaba Airlines, Inc.

### EXHIBIT A

Pierre (PIR)

Mesaba Operated Service

Marketing

Airline Operating

Airline Org Dst Flight Equip Departure
Time Arrival

Time Op days

DL XJ MSP PIR 2539 SF3 1435 1622 1234567

DL XJ MSP PIR 2553 SF3 2205 2349 12345.7

Marketing

Airline Operating

Airline Org Dst Flight Equip Departure
Time Arrival

Time Op days

DL XJ PIR MSP 2545 SF3 0640 0818 1234567

DL XJ PIR MSP 2539 SF3 1647 1825 12345.7

Great Lakes Operated Service

Marketing

Airline Operating

Airline Org Dst Flight Equip Departure
Time Arrival

Time Op days

ZK ZK DEN PIR 7312 BE1 1035 1308 12345..

ZK ZK PIR HON 7312 BE1 1318 1351 12345..

ZK ZK DEN PIR 7310 BE1 1850 2123 12345.7

ZK ZK PIR HON 7310 BE1 2133 2206 12345.7

ZK ZK DEN PIR 7310 BE1 1630 1903 .....6.

ZK ZK PIR HON 7310 BE1 1913 1946 .....6.

Marketing

Airline Operating

Airline Org Dst Flight Equip Departure
Time Arrival

Time Op days

ZK ZK HON PIR 7233 BE1 0646 0722 12345..

ZK ZK PIR DEN 7233 BE1 0732 0809 12345..

ZK ZK HON PIR 7233 BE1 0718 0754 .....6.

ZK ZK PIR DEN 7233 BE1 0804 0841 .....6.

ZK ZK HON PIR 7233 BE1 1319 1355 ......7

ZK ZK PIR DEN 7233 BE1 1405 1442 ......7

ZK ZK HON PIR 7309 BE1 1401 1437 12345..

ZK ZK PIR DEN 7309 BE1 1447 1524 12345..

### CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing Ninety-Day Notice of Termination of
Service has been served this 15 th 

### day of July, 2011, upon the following persons via

certified mail:

The Honorable Laurie Gill Mayor Pierre City Hall

222 E. Dakota Avenue Pierre, SD 57501

Michael Isaacs Airport Manager Pierre Regional Airport 4001 Airport Road Pierre, SD 57501

South Dakota Department of Transportation

Bruce Lindholm Local Transportation Program Manager Division of Finance and Management 700 E. Broadway Ave. Becker-Hansen Building Pierre, SD 57501

U.S. Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza S.W. Washington, D.C. 20260
ATTN: Assistant General Counsel – Transportation

_______________________ Maximillian T. Shemesh