City of CPYesque I.sie, 9vlaine

The Oliice of

Airport Director

ScottE. Wardwell

Email: scottw@fh:lpresqueisle.com

MEMORANDUM

TO: Presque Isle City Council and Presque Isle City Manager

FROM: Scott Wardwell, Airport Director

DATE: April 2, 2014

RE: 2014 Essential Air Service Comments to USDOT

In their last monthly meeting, the Airport Advisory Committee voted to recommend that the Presque

Isle City Council request that the USDOT work with Pen Air to revise the airline schedule for the next

two year contract period. This revised schedule was included as Option 2 in the attached Pen Air

proposal.

The request to USDOT to adopt the revised airline schedule and the rational is included in the attached

letter addressed to Mr. Kevin Schlemmer, Chief of the Essential Air Service Division.

RECOMMENDATION

1) Be it resolved by and seconded by

to direct the Manager of the Northern Maine Regional

Airport to send the attached letter to the United States Department of Transportation on

behalf of the Presque Isle City Council.

12 Second.Street Presque Isle, ;M'E 04769-2459 207.764.4485 Pa;c201.764.2501

j.

i
April 4, 2014

NORTHERN MAINE REGIONAL AIRPORT

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

Subject: Comments on Pen Air Essential Air Service Bid

Dear Mr. Schlemmer:

Both the Presque Isle City Council and the Airport Advisory Committee have reviewed

the single bid received for the next two year contract period from Pen Air. Both have

voted and approved a recommendation for the schedule outlined in Option 2 of the Pen

Air proposal. 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

of2012. 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. Both the Council and Committee encourage USDOT to incorporate this revised

schedule in their final agreement with Pen Air.

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 t08:15 PM.

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. None of the legacy carriers with which Pen Air has an interline agreement have

Boston Logan as one of their hubs. Therefore many of those connecting out ofPQI are

required to fly to a hub from Boston only to catch another flight to their final destination.

In addition, connecting to airlines located in terminals other than Terminal B requires the

passenger to go through security a second time. Given these two factors, it is imperative

to give the business traveler an early departure of 6:00 AM out of PQI and a late arrival

intoPQl of 10:10 PM. Under the current schedule, the business traveler must leave the

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

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

www.FlyPresquelsle.com

An Equal Opportunity Employer
day before any morning meetings and return a day 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.

Both the Presque Isle City Council and the Airport Advisory Committee thank you for

your consideration in this matter. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call at

(207) 764-2550.

Best Regards,

Scott Wardwell

Airport Director

Cc: Michael F. Martin
Option 2 Schedule from Pen Air Proposal:

PQI BOS

KS124 6:00 7:40 1234567

KS126 11:00 12:40 12345XX

KS128 16:30 18:10 1234567

BOS PQI

KS125 8:50 10:30 12345XX

KSJ27 14:00 15:40 1234567

KS129 20:30 22:10 1234567