BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

__________________________________________ 

)

Essential Air Service at )

)

Beckley, West Virginia ) OST-1997-2761 

) 

Under 49 U.S.C. §41731 et seq. )

__________________________________________ 

SUN AIR INTERNATIONAL PROPOSAL 

TO PROVIDE SUBSIDIZED ESSENTIAL AIR SERICE

By Order 2014-7-11, the Department requested proposals from carriers interested in providing 

Essential Air Service to the community of Beckley, West Virginia. Pursuant to that order, Sun 

Air Express, LLC. (“Sun Air”) cordially submits this proposal to provide subsidized air service to 

that community. 

Correspondence with regard to this document should be addressed to:

David Hackett

Chief Executive Officer

Sun Air Express, LLC.

d/b/a Sun Air International

3201 Griffin Road, Suite 202

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312

Telephone: 954-660-9865

Fax: 954-894-0367

E-Mail: dhackett@gosunair.com

Bid Summary

Sun Air hereby offers proposals to provide service to the community of Beckley, West Virginia 

from Charlotte Douglas International airport and/or Pittsburgh International Airport 

Sun Air proposes to operate high frequency, low fare service using 8-passenger Piper Chieftain 

“Panther” aircraft. Sun Air’s management believes that this model provides the proper sized 

aircraft for the market, relatively low cost per departure, and needed aircraft performance 

capability given the unique challenges of BKW. Flights are timed for convenient connections 

and low-priced local fares to facilitate interline connections. Capacity is restricted to 8 

passengers instead of the traditional 9 seats due to the airline’s policy of including First Officers 

on its’ scheduled flights.
Sun Air is prepared to make substantial investments, both operationally as well as in the sales and 

marketing area, to aid the community in recovering air passenger demand potential. Sun Air’s 

management believes strongly that the combination of affordable fares, more frequent flights and 

consistently reliable operations are critical ingredients to providing the air service that these 

communities need.

Sun Air’s operating plans are based upon having multiple back-up aircraft, of the same type, and 

an ample availability of reserve flight crews. The plans for service to PIT as well as the PIT/CLT 

combination provide for two aircraft to be positioned in BKW, allowing for staged morning 

departures and needed schedule flexibility to ensure that passenger connections are both welltimed and efficient. 

The Panther version of the Piper Chieftain is a substantially upgraded type with modifications to 

propellers and wings that improves climb performance, and in particular, single engine-climb 

performance, which is important given the terrain surrounding BKW.

Sun Air’s proposal is for a four-year period, which the company believes is necessary relative to 

the size of its’ planned investment in these communities and to avoid excessive annual subsidy 

requirements. 

Flights will be displayed in all the major travel agent systems, and also available for booking on 

the company’s web site. Interline connections are available with most U.S. major airlines via Sun 

Air’s contracted distribution capabilities. 

The proposed subsidy amounts for each service option are listed in Schedule 1 included herein.

Service Proposal

Sun Air offers two service proposals:

1. Three weekday nonstop roundtrip flights to CLT, one weekend nonstop roundtrip flight 

to CLT and one daily round trip to PIT 7 days per week. Subject to coordination and 

discussion with BKW, weekend frequencies to CLT may be substituted for weekend 

flights to PIT, however no change in the requested subsidy would be made. The 

maximum annual subsidy requirement would be approximately $3.66 million.

2. Four daily round trip flights to PIT on weekdays and two daily nonstop roundtrip flights 

on the each weekend day. The maximum annual subsidy requirement would be 

approximately $3.46 million.

Local fares would be set for effectiveness of “add-on” prices to flights from PIT and CLT, 

generally in the $39 to $79 range each way (including tax). 

Sun Air would also undertake a comprehensive marketing plan that ensures awareness of service 

in BKW as well as building passenger traffic from a number of sources and aiding local economic 

recovery.

Interline connections are available through major travel systems, including the ability for 

through-checking of baggage. Sun Air has installed enhanced baggage storage features on its 

aircraft which improve capacity for checked baggage handling, and meets all relevant TSA 

requirements. Previously, the company’s aircraft have had limitations on baggage capacity, 

particularly with respect to larger hard-sided bags that did not fit in the existing storage facilities.
About Sun Air International

Sun Air Express, LLC d/b/a Sun Air International is a Fort Lauderdale, FL based commuter air 

carrier currently serving markets in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Texas.

The airline has operated charters and limited scheduled service within Florida and the Bahamas 

for a number of years. New management was brought in near the end of 2013, and since that 

time has focused on improving operations and initiating a range of marketing activities.

The company’s operating philosophy is to ensure the highest possible levels of reliability through 

full-time availability of back-up aircraft (including those times when scheduled or unscheduled 

maintenance is required), reserve pilot staffing and schedules that allow for recovery in the event 

of unforeseen delays. BKW has endured a lengthy period of sub-standard service levels, and Sun 

Air is committed to providing reliability levels that are needed to provide the foundation to 

properly serve the community and rebuild passenger traffic levels.

SCHEDULE 1

Annual Projected Operations

BKL-CLT/PIT BKW-PIT

Passenger Revenue

 

$376,484 

 

$309,129

Flight Operations

 

1,290,401 

 

1,208,260

Maintenance

 

899,576 

 

840,266 

Sales & Service

 

988,012 

 

869,965

Aircraft Ownership

 

476,000 

 

476,000 

Other Expenses

 

194,000 

 

194,000 

Total Operating 

Costs

 

3,847,990 

 

3,588,491

Operating 

Profit/(Loss)

 

$(3,471,506)

 

$(3,279,262)

Profit Element (5%)

 

(192,400)

 

(179,425)

Subsidy Required

 

$(3,663,905)

 

$(3,458,787)

. .
ASMs

 

3,532,414 

 

3,738,209

RPMs

 

1,548,145 

 

1,420,520

Load Factor 43.8% 38.0%

Block Hours

 

3,390 

 

3,147

Annual Departures

 

2,421 

 

2,421

Available Seats

 

19,369 

 

19,369

Enplaned 

Passengers

 

8,555 

 

7,360

Average Segment Fare

 

$44.01 

 

$42.00 

Subsidy per Departure $1,513 $1,429

In conclusion, Sun Air believes that its proposal will provide excellent levels of service to the 

community, ensures that they have proper access to the national air transportation network,

offering cost-effective options that meet the requirements of the Essential Air Service Program.

 

Respectfully Submitted: July 31, 2014

______________________

David F. Hackett

Chief Executive 

Sun Air Express, LLC

d/b/a Sun Air International