### Martin, Michael (OST)

From: Sent: Jaime Schmeiser <jaime@powellchamber.org> Wednesday, March 06, 2013 6:36 PM To: Martin, Michael (OST) 

### Cc: bobh@flyyra.com Subject: Letter of Support

Hard Copy will be sent via regular mail 

### 3/7/13

March 5, 2013 Michael Martin United States Department ofTransportation Office ofAviation Analysis Essential Air Service Program Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Martin: We appreciatethe opportunityto express oursupportfor SkyWest Airlines' proposal to provide essential air service to Cody, Wyoming, which services all of Park County and the surrounding Big Horn Basin community. As you may be aware, our local community is served bythe Cody Yellowstone Air Improvement Resources organization {CYAIR}, acollection of local government officials and business leaders interested in enhancing air service to ourcommunity and working collaborativelyto plan for ourcommunity's future air service needs. CYAIR convened its membershipto considerthe SkyWest proposal and to offersupportforthe proposal in a united voice. Adding ourvoice to CYAIR, this letterserves as a neighboring community response tothe EAS Proposal

. Powell, the second largest city in Park County, along with the city ofCody, has enjoyed a long relationship with SkyWest and Delta going back to 1994. Manyofour residents have agreat loyaltytothe carrier due to its hub in Salt Lake City. This hub is**importan~** to so many in our community because it providesfor advanced medical services, educational and religious opportunities. It has also played a key role in Cody and Park County having year round, stable and reliable air service in the past. Losing this connection would be extremely detrimental to many people in our region. Park County has strongtourism attractions, and businesses that rely on airservice as a means to conduct their enterprises. Recent growth throughout Park County businesses can trace its' source, in no small part, to havingthese critical air service connections. Additionally, air service is one ofour leading business recruitmenttools and key to our economic success. The potential loss ofthe connection tothe Salt Lake hub also threatens our abilityto maintain quality competition in the market and as a result, competitive fares and schedules. The SkyWest proposal creates an equal playing field with the other airservice available in the community. SkyWest's inclusion ofjet service and
a schedule that enables good east/west connections at the hub, will ensure that passengertargets will be met and allow us to continue growingthe users in this market area. In December of2010, Yellowstone Regional Airport opened a new $12 million dollarterminal in Cody, which since then, has made great strides in the growing use ofthe airport, and has had record numberof enplanements. We believe that commercial air service will continue to grow in our region. Awarding SkyWest the Essential Air Service contractwill allow us to continue ourwork in creating passenger demand and establish a market base which will operate independent ofsubsidy programs.

1We add our collective voice to Cody, Park County and the Big Horn Basin and strongly encourage you to supportthe SkyWest proposal.
Sincerely,

Don E. Hillman, Mayor of Powell

Jaime Schmeiser, Executive Director Powell Valley Chamber ofCommerce

Rowene Weems, Director/Curator Homesteader Museum



### Jaime Schmeiser, Executive Director PowellValley ChamberofCommerce 111 S. Day St. Powell, WY 82435 307-754-3494 Anna Sapp, Executive Director Powell Economic Partnership, Inc.

Steve Leger, Executive Director Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation

2