Order: 2015-8-18 Served: August 20, 2015
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. Issued by the Department of Transportation on the 20th day of August, 2015 Essential Air Service at CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA MOAB, UTAH PUEBLO, COLORADO VERNAL, UTAH
Docket DOT-OST-1997-2649 Docket DOT-OST-1997-2827 Docket DOT-OST-1999-6589 Docket DOT-OST-1997-2706
Under 49 U.S.C. 41731 et seq.
ORDER EXTENDING SERVICE OBLIGATION Summary By this Order, the United States Department of Transportation (the Department) extends the Essential Air Service (EAS) obligation of SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express (SkyWest United), at Crescent City, California, and Pueblo, Colorado, and also operating as Delta Connection (SkyWest Delta) at Moab and Vernal, Utah, for an additional 30 days, through September 14, 2015, or until a new air carrier begins full EAS at the communities, whichever occurs first, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 41734(c). Background On November 18, 2014, SkyWest United and SkyWest Delta filed 90-day notices with the Department of its intent to terminate its subsidized EAS at all four communities, effective April 6, 2015. By Order 2014-11-18 (November 25, 2014), the Department prohibited the air carrier from suspending service for 30 days beyond the end of its 90-day notice period, i.e. March 18, 2015, and requested proposals from air carriers interested in providing replacement service at the four communities. Several carriers filed proposals, which can be viewed on www.regulations.gov under each community’s respective docket number. By Order 2015-3-14 (March 25, 2015), the Department selected Peninsula Airways, Inc. to provide EAS at Crescent City for the two-year term beginning September 1, 2015. By Order 2015-3-15 (March 26, 2015), the Department selected Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. to provide EAS at Moab and Vernal for the two-year term beginning May 1, 2015; however, Great Lakes has not yet commenced service at either community nor have they announced a start date yet. By Order 2015-6-11 (June 12, 2015), the Department also selected Great Lakes to provide EAS
2 at Pueblo for the two-year term beginning August 1, 2015, through July 31, 2017, but Great Lakes has not announced a start date, and it is unlikely to begin service by September 1, 2015. As a result, we must extend SkyWest’s service obligation’s at all four communities for another 30 days as described in Appendix A, or until replacement service actually begins, whichever comes first. This Order is issued under authority assigned in 14 CFR 385.12(k)(5). ACCORDINGLY, 1. We require SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, to provide the level of service at Crescent City, California, as set forth in Order 2014-4-23, for an additional 30-day period through September 14, 2015, or until an air carrier capable of providing reliable EAS actually begins service, whichever is first; 1 2. We require SkyWest Airlines, operating as Delta Connection, to provide the level of service at Moab and Vernal, Utah, as set forth in Order 2014-2-18, for an additional 30-day period through September 14, 2015, or until an air carrier capable of providing reliable EAS actually begins service, whichever is first; 2 3. We require SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, to provide the level of service at Pueblo, Colorado, as set forth in Order 2014-2-18, for an additional 30-day period through September 14, 2015, or until an air carrier capable of providing reliable EAS actually begins service, whichever is first; 3 4. We direct SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express and Delta Connection, to retain all books, records, and other source and summary documentation to support subsidy claims for payment, and to preserve and maintain such documentation in a manner that readily permits its audit and examination by representatives of the Department. Such documentation shall be retained for seven years from the service date of this Order or until the Department indicates that the records may be destroyed, whichever comes first. Copies of flight logs for aircraft sold or disposed of must be retained. The carrier may forfeit its compensation for any claim that is not supported under the terms of this Order; 5. These dockets will remain open until further order of the Department; and 6. The Department will serve a copy of this Order on the mayors of Crescent City, California, Moab, Utah, Pueblo, Colorado, Vernal, Utah; the airport directors at Del Norte Regional Airport (Crescent City), Canyonlands Airport (Moab), Pueblo Memorial Airport, Vernal Regional Airport, and SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express and Delta Connection.
1
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 41734(c), we will extend SkyWest’s service obligation for successive 30-day periods as necessary until replacement service actually begins at Crescent City. 2 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 41734(c), we will extend SkyWest’s service obligation for successive 30-day periods as necessary until replacement service actually begins at Moab and Vernal. 3 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 41734(c), we will extend SkyWest’s service obligation for successive 30-day periods as necessary until replacement service actually begins at Pueblo.
3 Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of this Order under the Department’s Aviation Economic Regulations, 14 CFR 385.31(a), must file such petitions within seven (7) days after the date of service of this order. This Order will be effective immediately, and the filing of a petition for review shall not preclude its effectiveness. By:
SUSAN L. KURLAND Assistant Secretary for Aviation And International Affairs (SEAL) An electronic version of this document is available on online at www.regulations.gov
Appendix A Essential Air Service to be Maintained at Crescent City, California Effective Period:
August 16, 2015, through September 14, 2015
Hub:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Scheduled Service:
14 weekly nonstop round trips
Aircraft:
30-passenger Embraer Brasilia EMB 120 Essential Air Service to be Maintained at Moab, Utah
Effective Period:
August 16, 2015, through September 14, 2015
Hub:
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Scheduled Service:
12 weekly nonstop round trips
Aircraft:
30-passenger Embraer Brasilia EMB 120 Essential Air Service to be Maintained at Pueblo, Colorado
Effective Period:
August 16, 2015, through September 14, 2015
Hub:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Scheduled Service:
12 weekly nonstop round trips
Aircraft:
30-passenger Embraer Brasilia EMB 120 Essential Air Service to be Maintained at Vernal, Utah
Effective Period:
August 16, 2015, through September 14, 2015
Hub:
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Scheduled Service:
12 weekly nonstop round trips
Aircraft:
30-passenger Embraer Brasilia EMB 120
