Proposal to Provide Essential Air Service at

Decatur, Illinois

Docket DOT-OST-2006-23929

Direct Inquiries Regarding this Proposal to:

Shane Storz, CEO

Air Choice One Airlines

12300 Old Tesson Road, Suite 200 F, Saint Louis, MO 63128

Phone: (866) 435-9847 Fax: (314) 843-8527 E-mail: shane@airchoiceone.com

Multi-Aero Inc. 

d/b/a

Air Choice One
Our Commitment

10/11/2011

Air Choice One is grateful to be the current carrier servicing the community of Decatur, Illinois and we are committed to 

continued growth in Decatur. We have reviewed the order and were disappointed because it describes our performance 

inaccurately. First, the order says that our subsidy level at Decatur is $331 per passenger. This description ignores the 

trend showing that we have been steadily reducing the subsidy level for Decatur, so that it has been under $200 since 

May, 2011. Air Choice One fully expects to meet the targets established two years ago. The Order relies solely on data 

released by BTS, which gives an inaccurate and unfair picture by not taking into consideration the data reported after 

June, 2011. The order also incorrectly discounts our achievements and the investments we have made, especially at 

Decatur where we built the passenger base from the dismal monthly 157 passengers that we inherited in December 

2009 to 1,421 in June, 2011. That’s nearly a 1000% increase in just 18 months! Our current proposal allocates 

substantial resources to support marketing efforts and builds on the momentum we have begun. We will continue 

working diligently to further increase enplanements.

We understand the efforts of a dedicated air carrier are critical to the continued success of the EAS program in your 

community. Air Choice One is that air carrier and through our past performance we have demonstrated the strategy 

outlined in our proposal is successful and guarantees airport development. Our current proposal gives the best access 

to the national transportation system for the community at reasonable prices and may be considered as an individual 

offering.

Air Choice One remains dedicated to providing Decatur with outstanding service and we are seeking your commitment 

to our partnership through selection of Air Choice One for a 4 year term. The commitment of the Decatur community to 

a 4 year term provides Air Choice One with the financial justification to move our fleet forward into aircraft with larger 

seating capacities. Decatur will directly benefit through increased passenger loads; easing the subsidy requirement.

We look forward to serving you for the next 4 years!
Market Growth Strategy -

Airport Partnerships

Air Choice One will team with your local airport to raise awareness about your 

communities’ air service and increase enplanements. 

• LOCAL AIRPORT INITIATIVES 

• Educate the Community about the EAS Program and Air Choice One’s Service

• Assist with Arranging Local Promotions, Media Access, and Service Clubs

• High Visibility on Website and Signage

• Draft and Distribute Press Releases

• Community Involvement 

• Participate in TV and Radio Coverage

• Distribute Information Pertaining to Air Choice One at Local Business Events

• High Visibility Presence on City Website(s) and Electronic Signage

• Provide Financial Support through Rental Agreements

• Provide Telephone and Internet Service

10/11/2011
Market Growth Strategy -

Airport Partnerships

Air Choice One will team with your chosen destination airport to promote tourism 

opportunities and encourage air travel to your community, again, increasing 

enplanements. 

• CHICAGO O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ORD) INITIATIVES 

• EAS Communities Receiving Reliable Service to Hub Airports Have Benefited From a Steady Increase in 

Ridership

• Market Vacation Packages to ORD and Beyond and to Local Communities From ORD

• Air Choice One Operates from Terminal 3, Gate L9

• LAMBERT ST. LOUIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (STL) INITIATIVES 

• Aggressively pursuing EAS Communities Through Partnership Programs

• Local Visits and Financial Support

• Annual EAS Summit Held at STL Airport

• STL Currently Supports Over 50 Daily Flights to Seven EAS Communities

• EAS Communities Partnering With STL Have Benefited From a Steady Increase in Ridership

• Provide Marketing Funds to Both Air Choice One and the Local Community

• Market Vacation Packages to STL and Beyond and to Local Communities From STL

• Expedited Security Passes—Passengers With Connections Enter Security Through First/Business Class Line

• Discount Coupons for Airport Shopping and Concessions

10/11/2011
Market Growth Strategy –

Partnering With the Community 

10/11/2011

Air Choice One is dedicated to working with your community 

to reinvigorate the service at your airport and sustain growth 

that will launch us into the future. 

• WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS

• Corporate Headquarters in Midwest

• Increase Local Career Opportunities 

• WE ARE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

• Routine On-Site Sales Visits

• Chamber of Commerce Participation and Membership 

• Airport Affiliate Participation 

• STRONG PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIA OUTREACH 

• Business Incentive Programs

• Travel Agent Discounts

• Business to Business Communication

• Attendance at Public Events

• WE KEEP YOU INFORMED

• Monthly Airport Board Updates
Market Growth Strategy –

Marketing Investment

10/11/2011

Air Choice One reinvests in our served communities. 

• TRADITIONAL MEDIA

• Radio-Talk Shows/Commercials

• TV Commercials and Event Coverage

• Print-Newspaper/Magazines

• Billboards

• Web Based

– E-Blasts- Constant Contact

– Monthly E-Mail Promotions

– City Representation on Our Website 

• SOCIAL MEDIA

• Twitter, Facebook, Linked In

• INTERACTIVE MEDIA

• Contests

• You Tube/Videos 

• EVENTS AND SPONSORSHIPS

• Local Charitable Support - March of Dimes, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Red Cross, etc.

• Business/Community Support - Golf Tournaments, Business Luncheons, Air Shows, etc.

• COMMUNITY TICKET OFFICE
Market Growth Strategy –

Reliability & Growth

• CONSISTENT SERVICE IS KEY

• Proven Success in Other EAS Markets

• Builds Passenger Confidence in Carrier

• Dedicated Aircraft for your Airport

– 102% Flight Completion Ratio as 

Reported by DOT YR 2010

– Spare Aircraft Availability

• AIR CHOICE ONE’S REVENUE INCREASED 

BY OVER 20% YE 2010 VS. 2009

10/11/2011

75

80

85

90

95

100

105

Cape 

Air

Am. 

Eagle

Gr. 

Lakes

Sea 

Port

Air 

Choice

Completion %

Airline

Airline Completion Ratios

Works Cited: T-100 Segment 

Report DOT 2010 Calendar Year
Market Growth Strategy –

Accessibility

• VISIBILITY

• Global Distribution Systems

–Sabre, Apollo, Worldspan, 

Travelport, Amadeus, etc.

• Consumer Sites

–Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline, 

Orbitz, etc.

• Web based booking

–www.airchoiceone.com

• Call Center

–Open 7 Days a Week

• CONNECTIVITY

• United Airlines Agreement

• Additional Legacy Agreements Pending

10/11/2011
Market Growth Strategy –

Pricing 

Air Choice One offers the right price for the 

right ticket at the right time. 

We take all things into consideration and 

enter the market with low fares. We work 

hard to establish a winning price point 

through targeted market analysis. We 

believe consistent pricing builds consumer 

confidence. 

• BUILDING & SUSTAINING RIDERSHIP 

THROUGH PRICE

• Introductory Fares Peak Interest and 

Drive Passengers to Air Choice One 

and Your Airport

• On-Going Affordable Fares = Full 

Planes!

• Full Planes Establish the Customer 

Base Needed to Reduce Future 

Subsidy Requirements 

10/11/2011

*Numbers Reflect O & D

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

# of Passengers

Month of Service

Air Choice One Ridership Growth

EAS Markets 2010-2011*

2010

2011
Marketing Growth Strategy -

New Hub, New Opportunities

ST. LOUIS’ COMBO OF LOW FARE CARRIERS AND ENDLESS CONNECTIONS ARE THE 

KEY TO SELLING MORE TICKETS!

10/11/2011

*Source : Southwest Airlines Website, September 2011, 14 Day Advance Purchase 

• Air Choice One Operates from Gate 

E33, Terminal 2

• 244 Daily Flights to 60 Domestic & 

International Markets as of August, 

2011.

• More than 24,700 Daily Outbound 

Seats.

Terminal 2, Gate E33
Marketing Growth Strategy -

Building On A Great Foundation

AIR CHOICE ONE WILL BUILD ON CHICAGO O’HARE INTERNATIONAL’S MOMENTUM! 

10/11/2011

Terminal 3, Gate L9

• Air Choice One Operates from Terminal 2, Gate L9

• 39 Carriers Serving Over 67 Million Passengers and More 

Than 950,000 Aircraft Operations in 2010
Options Index

Decatur, Illinois

10/11/2011

OPTION 1, 2 YEAR SERVICE WITH DISCOUNT FOR 4 YEAR SERVICE TERM – STL & ORD SERVICE

CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN

Decatur, Illinois – Dual Hub Service – Lambert St. Louis & Chicago O’Hare International Airports

Cessna Grand Caravan 36 Round Trips Per Week

OPTION 2, 2 YEAR SERVICE WITH DISCOUNT FOR 4 YEAR SERVICE TERM – STL & ORD SERVICE

CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN

Decatur, Illinois – Dual Hub Service – Lambert St. Louis & Chicago O’Hare International Airports

Cessna Grand Caravan 36 Round Trips Per Week

OPTION 3, 2 YEAR SERVICE WITH DISCOUNT FOR 4 YEAR SERVICE TERM – STL SERVICE

CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN

Decatur, Illinois – Lambert St. Louis International Airport

Cessna Grand Caravan 36 Round Trips Per Week

OPTION 4, 2 YEAR SERVICE WITH DISCOUNT FOR 4 YEAR SERVICE TERM – ORD SERVICE

CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN

Decatur, Illinois – Chicago O’Hare International Airport

Cessna Grand Caravan 36 Round Trips Per Week
Operation Revenues

DEC-STL & DEC-ORD Revenues $ 842,550

Other Revenues 8,426

Total Operating Revenues $ 850,976

Direct Operating Expenses

Flying Operations $ 468,730

Fuel and Oil 880,041

Maintenance 703,095

Aircraft Leases 420,000

Total Direct $2,471,866

Marketing 60,000

Indirect 898,049

Total Operating Expenses $3,429,915

Operating Loss $2,578,939

Profit Element (5% total Oper. Exp.) 171,496

Compensation Required $2,750,435

Compensation per PAX $167

Compensation per Departure $748

Decatur, Illinois – Dual Hub Service – Cessna Grand Caravan

Option 1: 2 Year Service With Discount For 4 Year Service Term

36 Total Round Trips Per Week – Based on 98% Completion Rate

Decatur, Illinois – Dual Hub Service – Lambert St. Louis & Chicago O’Hare International Airports – Caravan

# Passengers: 16,450

Average Fare - ORD: $59.00

Average Fare – STL: $49.00

Departures: 3,680

Block Hours: 3,348

Revenue Passenger Miles: 2,665,650

Available Seat Miles: 5,498,176

10/11/2011

Representative Schedule (3S/3C)

Departure Arrival

DEC @ 6:00 AM CT ORD @ 7:05 AM CT

ORD @ 7:55 AM CT DEC @ 9:00 AM CT

DEC @ 9:30 AM CT STL @ 10:10 AM CT

STL @ 10:40 AM CT DEC @ 11:20 AM CT

DEC @ 11:45 AM CT ORD @ 12:50 PM CT

ORD @ 1:20 PM CT DEC @ 2:25 PM CT

DEC @ 2:45 PM CT STL @ 3:25 PM CT

STL @ 4:00 PM CT DEC @ 4:40 PM CT

DEC @ 5:00 PM CT ORD @ 6:05 PM CT

ORD @ 6:35 PM CT DEC @ 7:40 PM CT

DEC @ 8:00 PM CT STL @ 8:40 PM CT

STL @ 9:10 PM CT DEC @ 9:50 PM CT

DISCOUNTED SUBSIDY

$2,667,922/Year

$726/Departure

DISCOUNT FOR 4-YEAR TERM
Operation Revenues

DEC-STL & DEC-ORD Revenues $ 902,550

Other Revenues 9,026

Total Operating Revenues $ 911,576

Direct Operating Expenses

Flying Operations $ 432,674

Fuel and Oil 947,736

Maintenance 757,179

Aircraft Leases 420,000

Total Direct $2,557,589

Marketing 60,000

Indirect 897,153

Total Operating Expenses $3,514,742

Operating Loss $2,603,167

Profit Element (5% total Oper. Exp.) 175,737

Compensation Required $2,778,904

Compensation per PAX $169

Compensation per Departure $755

Decatur, Illinois – Dual Hub Service – Cessna Grand Caravan

Option 2: 2 Year Service With Discount For 4 Year Service Term 

36 Total Round Trips Per Week – Based on 98% Completion Rate

Decatur, Illinois – Dual Hub Service – Lambert St. Louis & Chicago O’Hare International Airports – Caravan

# Passengers: 16,450

Average Fare - ORD: $59.00

Average Fare – STL: $49.00

Departures: 3,679

Block Hours: 3,605

Revenue Passenger Miles: 2,899,950

Available Seat Miles: 6,120,093

10/11/2011

DISCOUNTED SUBSIDY

$2,695,537/Year

$732/Departure

DISCOUNT FOR 4-YEAR TERM

Representative Schedule (2S/4C)

Departure Arrival

DEC @ 6:00 AM CT ORD @ 7:05 AM CT

ORD @ 7:55 AM CT DEC @ 9:00 AM CT

DEC @ 9:30 AM CT STL @ 10:10 AM CT

STL @ 10:40 AM CT DEC @ 11:20 AM CT

DEC @ 11:35 AM CT ORD @ 12:40 PM CT

ORD @ 1:10 PM CT DEC @ 2:15 PM CT

DEC @ 2:45 PM CT ORD @ 3:50 PM CT

ORD @ 4:20 PM CT DEC @ 5:25 PM CT

DEC @ 6:00 PM CT STL @ 6:40 PM CT

STL @ 7:00 PM CT DEC @ 7:40 PM CT

DEC @ 8:00 PM CT ORD @ 9:05 PM CT

ORD @ 9:35 PM CT DEC @ 10:40 PM CT
Operation Revenues

DEC-STL Revenues $ 754,600

Other Revenues 7,546

Total Operating Revenues $ 762,146

Direct Operating Expenses

Flying Operations $ 347,684

Fuel and Oil 676,954

Maintenance 589,777

Aircraft Leases 420,000

Total Direct $2,034,415

Marketing 60,000

Indirect 810,652

Total Operating Expenses $2,905,067

Operating Loss $2,142,921

Profit Element (5% total Oper. Exp.) 145,253

Compensation Required $2,288,174

Compensation per PAX $149

Compensation per Departure $622

Decatur, Illinois – Cessna Grand Caravan

Option 3: 2 Year Service With Discount For 4 Year Service Term 

36 Total Round Trips Per Week – Based on 98% Completion Rate

Decatur, Illinois – Lambert St. Louis International Airport – Caravan

# Passengers: 15,400

Average Fare: $49.00

Departures: 3,679

Block Hours: 2,575

Revenue Passenger Miles: 1,694,000

Available Seat Miles: 3,632,429

10/11/2011

DISCOUNTED SUBSIDY

$2,219,529/Year

$603/Departure

DISCOUNT FOR 4-YEAR TERM

Representative Schedule (6S)

Departure Arrival

DEC @ 6:00 AM CT STL @ 6:40 AM CT

STL @ 7:25 AM CT DEC @ 8:05 AM CT

DEC @ 8:50 AM CT STL @ 9:30 AM CT

STL @ 10:15 AM CT DEC @ 10:55 AM CT

DEC @ 11:40 AM CT STL @ 12:20 PM CT

STL @ 1:05 PM CT DEC @ 1:45 PM CT

DEC @ 2:30 PM CT STL @ 3:10 PM CT

STL @ 3:55 PM CT DEC @ 4:35 PM CT

DEC @ 5:20 PM CT STL @ 6:00 PM CT

STL @ 6:45 PM CT DEC @ 7:25 PM CT

DEC @ 8:05 PM CT STL @ 8:45 PM CT

STL @ 9:35 PM CT DEC @ 10:15 PM CT
Operation Revenues

DEC-ORD Revenues $ 970,550

Other Revenues 9,706

Total Operating Revenues $ 980,256

Direct Operating Expenses

Flying Operations $ 453,277

Fuel and Oil 1,062,111

Maintenance 824,142

Aircraft Leases 420,000

Total Direct $2,759,530

Marketing 60,000

Indirect 832,965

Total Operating Expenses $3,652,495

Operating Loss $2,672,239

Profit Element (5% total Oper. Exp.) 182,625

Compensation Required $2,854,864

Compensation per PAX $174

Compensation per Departure $776

Decatur, Illinois – Cessna Grand Caravan

Option 4: 2 Year Service With Discount For 4 Year Service Term 

36 Total Round Trips Per Week – Based on 98% Completion Rate

Decatur, Illinois – Chicago O’Hare International Airport – Caravan

# Passengers: 16,450

Average Fare: $59.00

Departures: 3,679

Block Hours: 4,121

Revenue Passenger Miles: 3,668,350

Available Seat Miles: 7,363,924

10/11/2011

DISCOUNTED SUBSIDY

$2,769,218/Year

$753/Departure

DISCOUNT FOR 4-YEAR TERM

Representative Schedule (6C)

Departure Arrival

DEC @ 6:00 AM CT 0RD @ 7:05 AM CT

0RD @ 7:50 AM CT DEC @ 8:55 AM CT

DEC @ 9:40 AM CT ORD @ 10:45 AM CT

0RD @ 11:30 AM CT DEC @ 12:35 PM CT

DEC @ 1:20 PM CT ORD @ 2:25 PM CT

ORD @ 3:10 PM CT DEC @ 4:15 PM CT

ORD @ 2:00 PM CT DEC @ 3:05 PM CT

DEC @ 3:50 PM CT ORD @ 4:55 PM CT

DEC @ 5:30 PM CT ORD @ 6:35 PM CT

ORD @ 8:00 PM CT DEC @ 9:05 PM CT

ORD @ 5:40 PM CT DEC @ 6:45 PM CT

DEC @ 7:30 PM CT ORD @ 8:35 PM CT
The Best Choice to Succeed

10/11/2011

• Proven Enplanement Increases in EAS 

Markets

• Successful Pricing Strategy

• Demonstrated Growth in Community Support 

• Proven Reliability 

• Outstanding Completion Ratio

• Great Hub Connectivity

• Successful Marketing and Public Relations 

Outreach

• Raise Awareness About Local Air Service

• We Cater to Community and Business Needs

We Look Forward to Serving Decatur for the Next 4 Years!