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 15th 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