Before the United States Department of Transportation

January 6, 2015

Essential Air Service at

VISALIA, CALIFORNIA

Under 49 U.S.C. 41731 et seq.

Docket OST-2004-19916

REQUEST OF SEAPORT AIRLINES TO CHANGE SERVICE 

PATTERN AT VISALIA, CALIFORNIA

By Order 2014-12-7, the Department selected SeaPort Airlines, Inc. (“SeaPort”) to 

provide subsidized scheduled Essential Air Service (“EAS”) at Visalia, California. That 

selection, for a two year period, was to provide 12 weekly roundtrip flights to Burbank and 

12 weekly roundtrips to Oakland.

SeaPort hereby requests the Department’s permission to change the service pattern 

at Visalia by replacing the 12 weekly roundtrips to Oakland with 12 weekly roundtrips to 

Sacramento. This request includes no change to the 12 weekly roundtrips to Burbank. 

We have presented the change in service pattern to the Visalia City Council. A letter 

in support of this request will be filed on their behalf and under separate cover by the Mayor 

of Visalia.

SeaPort Airlines is scheduled to begin service at Visalia on February 9, 2015. As 

such, we respectfully ask that the Department approve the requested change in service on 

an expedited basis.

In support of this request, SeaPort states the following:

#1. Sacramento provides comparable connectivity to Oakland.

Sacramento International Airport (“SMF”) would provide Visalia travelers with 

connectivity that is reasonably comparable to Oakland International Airport (“OAK”). The 

table on the page illustrates this point using multiple measures.
SeaPort Airlines, Inc.

Request for Service Pattern Change

OST-2004-19916

Page 2 of 4

Comparison of Scheduled Airline Service

Oakland v Sacramento

Where differences do exist, they are largely attributable to low-fare airlines at 

Oakland that provide service to leisure destinations and target price-sensitive customers. 

Some of these carriers, such as Volaris and Allegiant Air, offer less-than-daily schedules 

and/or very late night/early morning departure times (effectively “red-eye” flights). SeaPort 

believes such traffic would have comprised a very small percentage of the overall demand 

on the VIS-OAK sector. 

Sacramento, while still providing access to low-fare carriers such as Southwest and 

jetBlue, offers greater worldwide connectivity by providing travelers with access to all three 

of the major global alliances: SkyTeam, OneWorld, and Star Alliance. Customers that would 

most likely benefit from this access typically represent business travelers and therefore help 

drive economic growth in the San Joaquinn Valley. This connectivity and contribution to 

economic growth is consistent with the overall goals of the Essential Air Service program.

#2. Local traffic demand exists between Visalia and Sacramento.

As the capitol of California, there is demand for travel to Sacramento related to the 

business of state government. 

The service pattern requested herein would meet the needs of travelers in the 

immediate area around Visalia Municipal Airport, but also has the potential to draw travelers 

from the southern end of of Fresno Air Terminal’s catchment area and northern end of 

Meadows Field’s catchment area in Bakersfield. Neither of these airports have service to 

the state capitol.

Oakland Sacramento % Difference

Scheduled Airlines 9 9 0%

Nonstop Destinations 35 24 -31%

Avg. Daily Departures 125 113 -9%

Avg. Daily Departing Seats 17,626 14,426 -18%

Avg. Departures per Destination 3.6 4.7 32%

% Seats on Low-Fare Airlines 82.8% 62.1% -25%

Published schedules for week ending February 14, 2015
SeaPort Airlines, Inc.

Request for Service Pattern Change

OST-2004-19916

Page 3 of 4

#3. This request includes no change in subsidy. 

This request for change in service pattern does not include a request for change in 

subsidy or frequency. The number of weekly roundtrips to Sacramento would be 12, the 

same frequency to Oakland that the Department awarded to SeaPort in Order 2014-12-7. 

Our schedule in the Visalia market, including service to both Sacramento and Burbank, is 

provide below. 

The distance between Visalia and Sacramento (204 statute miles) is approximately 

10% greater than the distance between Visalia and Oakland (184 statute miles). 

#4. SeaPort requests that the Department expedite this request. 

SeaPort requests that the Department approve this request in an expeditous 

manner. We are scheduled to begin service at Visalia Municipal Airport on February 9, 

2015, slightly more than one month from today.

Until such approval is formally granted by the Department, and on the basis of 

conversations with Department staff, SeaPort will notify customers that service between 

Visalia and Sacramento is “Subject to Government Approval.” 

Flt # Leave Arrive Stops Frequency Flt # Leave Arrive Stops Frequency

TO: Burbank FROM: Burbank

K5 5201 6:10am 7:15am 0 ExSun K5 5200 8:10am 9:15am 0 ExSun

K5 5206 2:00pm 3:05pm 0 ExSat K5 5205 3:30pm 4:35pm 0 ExSat

TO: Imperial/El Centro FROM: Imperial/El Centro

K5 5201/K5 5112 6:10am 8:45am BUR ExSun K5 5111/K5 5200 5:45am 9:15am BUR ExSun

K5 5206/K5 5116 2:00pm 6:00pm BUR ExSat

TO: Sacramento FROM: Sacramento

K5 5300 9:45am 11:10am 0 ExSun K5 5301 11:40am 1:05pm 0 ExSun

K5 5302 5:00pm 6:25pm 0 ExSat K5 5303 6:45pm 8:10pm 0 ExSat

TO: San Diego FROM: San Diego

K5 5201 6:10am 8:35am 1 ExSun K5 5200 6:30am 9:15am 1 ExSun

K5 5206 2:00pm 3:05pm 1 ExSat K5 5205 2:00pm 4:35pm 1 ExSat

TO: San Felipe FROM: San Felipe

K5 5201/K5 9001 6:10am 11:00am SAN MonThuSat K5 9002/K5 5205 11:40am 4:45pm SAN MonThuSun

Visalia, California (VIS)
SeaPort Airlines, Inc.

Request for Service Pattern Change

OST-2004-19916

Page 3 of 4

SeaPort Airlines appreciates the Department’s consideration of this request and are 

available answer questions or provide additional information.

Respectfully Submitted,

Timothy Sieber

Executive Vice President

SeaPort Airlines, Inc.

7505 NE Airport Way

Portland International Airport

Portland, Oregon 97218

Office: (971) 340-1716

email: tsieber@seaportair.com

DATE: January 6, 2015