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OST-1999-5173

http://www.northplatteairport.com/ - North Platte Regional Airport - Lee Bird Field

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd.

In spite of well-timed schedules and competitive published fares, revenues generated in the North Platte to Denver and beyond markets are currently insufficient to cover the costs of operating the service. Low fare competition at Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska has had an impact on North Platte traffic.

By:  Douglas Voss, President & CEO, Great Lakes Aviation, 712.262.1000

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. / North Platte, NB / Iron Mountain/Kingsford, MI / Williston, ND

By:  Bradley Mims

Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Michigan/Williston, North Dakota/North Platte, Nebraska

Great Lakes is the only carrier providing scheduled air service at all three cities, providing three round trips a day between Iron Mountain and Chicago-O'Hare International Airport with 30-seat Brasilia aircraft, and between Williston and Denver, and North Platte and Denver, with 19-seat Beech 1900 ah-craft. On March 2, 1999, Great Lakes filed 90-day notices of intent to suspend its subsidy-free essential air service at all three communities, effective May 31, 1999. Great Lakes states that its revenues on all three routes are currently insufficient to cover its costs of operating the service. In addition, it states that low-fare competition at Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, has had an impact on North Platte traffic.

By:  Bradley Mimms

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd.

Order 99-6-19 requires Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., d/b/a United Express, to maintain essential air service at Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Michigan, Williston, North Dakota, and North Platte, Nebraska, as set forth in Appendix C of Order 99-5-12, for an additional 30-day period through July 29, 1999, or until a carrier capable of providing reliable replacement service actually begins service, whichever is first, effective immediately, and the filing of a petition for review shall not preclude its effectiveness.

By:  John Coleman

Great Lakes Aviation, Inc. 

On March 2, 1999, Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., d/b/a United Express, tiled 90-day notices of intent to suspend its subsidy-free essential air service at Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Michigan, Williston, North Dakota, and North Platte, Nebraska, effective May 31, 1999. By Order 99-5-12, May 24, 1999, the Department prohibited Great Lakes from suspending service at the communities for 30 days beyond the end of its 90-day notice period, through June 29, 1999, and requested proposals from carriers interested in providing replacement service at the three communities. As required by 49 U.S.C. 41734, we have extended Great Lakes’ service obligation for additional 30day periods, the latest through July 29, 1999, by Order 99-6-19. On June 10, 1999, Great Lakes submitted proposals, with subsidy, for two years at the three communities. We have also received a competing proposal from Equity Air Holdings, Inc. The final deadline for submissions is August 2. Since this case will not be completed before the end of the current 30-day hold-in period, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we will extend Great Lakes’ service obligation at the three communities for an additional 30 days, through August 30, 1999, or until replacement service actually begins, whichever occurs first.

By:  John Coleman

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd.

By:  John Coleman

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd.

Order 99-9-21 requires Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., d/b/a United Express, to maintain essential air service at Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Michigan, Williston, North Dakota, and North Platte, Nebraska, as set forth in Appendix C of Order 99-5-12, for an ...

By:  John V. Coleman

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd.

Order 99-11-1 requires Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. d/b/a United Express to maintain essential air service at Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Michigan, Williston, North Dakota, and North Platte, Nebraska, as set forth in Appendix C of Order 99-5-12, for an additional 30-day period through December 1, 1999, or until a carrier
capable of providing reliable replacement service actually begins service, whichever is first. 

By:  John Coleman

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd

By:  John Coleman

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. / EAS at North Platte, NB; Williston, ND

By:  Bradley Mims

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd.

By:  Bradley Mims

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd

We will solicit proposals from carriers interested in providing replacement service at North Platte. We note that North Platte has averaged 50 enplanements a day in only one year (1993) since 1985 and has been in the 25-35 enplanement-per-day range for the last several years. Therefore, we request proposal options that would provide the community with service to either of its designated hubs of Denver or Omaha consisting of at least three round trips a day, nonstop or one-stop, six days a week, with twin-engine, two-pilot, 15-passenger-seat or larger, pressurized aircraft. The proposals should offer at least enough daily seats to accommodate the most recent average daily enplanements at a 60­percent load factor. We will also entertain proposals to serve other hubs that provide access to the national air transportation system in order to give the Department and the community as broad an array of proposals as possible from which to choose. Of course, as always, we will formally solicit the community's views on any service options we receive before making a long-term carrier selection decision. In order to assist carriers in making their traffic and revenue forecasts, we have included historical traffic data in Appendix B.

By:  Read Van de Water

In response to the Department of Transportation's request for proposal to operate Essential Air Service for a two year period between North Platte, Nebraska and Denver, Colorado; Mesa Air Group, Inc., on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Air Midwest, Inc., submits the attached service proposal and minimum subsidy requirements.

By:  Mesa Air Group, Gus Carbonell

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd.

The Department of Transportation and Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., concluded rate discussions on February 25, 2002, with respect to the carrier's proposal to provide essential air service at North Platte and Norfolk, Nebraska. If selected, Great Lakes agrees to provide essential air service at North Platte and Norfolk at the terms, conditions, and at the subsidy levels described in Attachment A. Calculations of the agreed-to subsidy rates are detailed in Attachment B.

By:  Great Lakes, Doug Gloss

Great Lakes Aviation

By this order we are, a) tentatively reselecting Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Great Lakes) to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at North Platte and Norfolk, Nebraska, for the period from December 1, 2001, through November 30, 2003; b) setting final subsidy rates for the carrier's continued service at both communities, retroactive to October 1, 2001; c) requesting proposals from air carriers interested in providing EAS at Norfolk; and d) extending the date that proposals are due from air carriers interested in providing EAS at North Platte to coincide with the proposal due-date in this order - 20 days from the service date.

By:  Read Van de Water

Great Lakes Aviation

By:  Read Van de Water

Essential Air Service at Grand Island, Kearney, McCook, Norfolk, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Order 03-12-2
OST-02-13983 - EAS at Grand Island, NE
OST-96-1715 - EAS at Kearney, NE
OST-97-3005 - EAS at McCook, NE
OST-98-3704 - EAS at Norfolk, NE
OST-99-5173 - EAS at North Platte, NE
OST-03-14535 - EAS at Scottsbluff, NE

Issued December 2, 2003 | Served December 5, 2003

Order Requesting Proposals

The Department had already issued orders requesting proposals from carriers interested in serving these communities. However, by letter dated July 14, 2003, the Mayor of Grand Island, the Chairman of the Hall County Airport Authority, and the Chair of the Hall County Board of Supervisors requested that the Department seek proposals offering Grand Island service to a hub to the east, rather than to Denver. In addition, other communities (especially Kearney) have indicated that they, too, are interested in seeking alternatives to the status quo. Further, we have decided to make an additional effort to seek service for Norfolk that falls within the statutory $200 per passenger ceiling. As a result, we ask carriers to construct their proposals so that the subsidy attributable to Norfolk can be readily identified or allocated. (We emphasize that this does not necessarily assure Norfolk of continued eligibility for subsidized service, nor does it grant the community an indefinite time period to attempt to boost its traffic levels. We are primarily interested in seeing proposals for Norfolk that potentially exhibit lower overall costs than the traditional Norfolk-North Platte-Denver package.) Moreover, essential air service at Nebraska communities has traditionally been interconnected to a significant extent. (For example, two of Grand Island's three flights to Denver currently make an intermediate stop at McCook, and Norfolk's service to Denver involves a stop at either Grand Island or Kearney.) Based on all of the above, we find that this is clearly a case that merits being processed in one comprehensive case under our new, streamlined carrier selection procedures.

By: Michael Reynolds

Essential Air Service at Grand Island, Kearney, McCook, Norfolk, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska

OST-02-13983 - EAS at Grand Island, NE
OST-96-1715 - EAS at Kearney, NE
OST-97-3005 - EAS at McCook, NE
OST-98-3704 - EAS at Norfolk, NE
OST-99-5173 - EAS at North Platte, NE
OST-03-14535 - EAS at Scottsbluff, NE

December 30, 2003

Re: Extension of Due Date for Proposals (Letter to Northwest on behalf of Mesa)

We have received your letter on behalf of Mesaba Airlines requesting an extension to submit its proposal to provide EAS at Grand Island, Nebraska, in response to Order 2003-12-2. That order also requested proposals for Kearney, McCook, Norfolk, North Platte and Scottsbluff. We also received a letter from the Hall County (Grand Island) Airport Authority supporting your request. Because we issued a Request for Proposals for the six communities in Nebraska as a package, we hereby grant your request and will extend the due date for all interested carriers to submit proposals for all six communities to January 20, 2004.

By: Dennis DeVany

OST-02-13983 - EAS at Grand Island, NE
OST-96-1715 - EAS at Kearney, NE
OST-97-3005 - EAS at McCook, NE
OST-98-3704 - EAS at Norfolk, NE
OST-99-5173 - EAS at North Platte, NE
OST-03-14535 - EAS at Scottsbluff, NE

January 20, 2004

Response of Westward Airways to Request for Proposals

Westward Airways desires to forward a service proposal for Dockets OST-1 996-1715 and OST-1998-3704. Although Westward Airways is not yet operational, the Company has been awarded its Final Order proposing issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for Interstate Air Transportation (Docket OST-02-14071)

By: Westward, Kristi Feusner, 308-220-2838

OST-02-13983 - EAS at Grand Island, NE
OST-96-1715 - EAS at Kearney, NE
OST-97-3005 - EAS at McCook, NE
OST-98-3704 - EAS at Norfolk, NE
OST-99-5173 - EAS at North Platte, NE
OST-03-14535 - EAS at Scottsbluff, NE

December 23, 2003

Re: Proposal of Corporate Airlines for Service at Grand Island, NE

Enclosed are two proposals for Grand Island, NE. One envisions one-stop service to St. Louis over Kansas City utilizing 19 seat J32 aircraft. The projected cost covers only the GRI-MCI flying, and nothing for the MCI-STL leg.  The other proposal is based on the utilization of 30 seat EMB equipment serving St. Louis nonstop from Grand Island.  We would operate either proposed service as American Connection.

By: Fred Breeden, 615-223-6844

January 20, 2004

Proposal of Great Lakes Aviation

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. Hereby submits our proposals to provide essential air transportation at these points in Nebraska

By: Great Lakes, Dave Thomas, 307-432-7000

January 22, 2004

Proposal of Mesa Air Group (Replaced)

Pages Inadvertently Ommitted by DOT Staff

The bids Mesa is submitting have varying levels of frequency and link some of the communities in different service patterns. Mesa has also enclosed several options which offer service to Kansas City. The Kansas City options were based on feedback from the communities and provide enhanced air travel options.

By: Mesa, Scott Lyon, 602-685-4368

January 20, 2004

Proposal of Mesaba Airlines - Grand Island, Nebraska

Attached please find details of the application of Mesaba Aviation, d/b/a Mesaba Airlines (Mesaba) for EAS subsidy between Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN and Grand Island, Nebraska. Mesaba would provide this service as Northwest Airlink, beginning service no later than June 10, 2004, with some flexibility to begin service earlier if necessary. We propose to operate twice daily nonstop round-trips between these cities, excepting one MSP-GRI trip on Saturday, and one GRI-MSP trip on Sunday.

By: Mesaba, John Spanjers

January 19, 2004

Proposal of Multi-Aero - Norfolk, Nebraska

Attached please find our proposal to provide Essential Air Service at Norfolk, Nebraska. We will utilize 19‑seat, twin‑engine, pressurized aircraft, initially configured for 14 passengers and fitted with an onboard lavatory. We will operate three round‑trips per day, with an intermediate stop at Lincoln, Nebraska. Worksheets detailing our forecasted operations and a preliminary schedule are included with this submission.

We have chosen a Lincoln‑Kansas City routing based upon discussions with Norfolk officials and our analysis of the respective markets. Revenue estimates are based upon historical information, together with anticipated increases due to a more reasonable fare structure. Operating expenses are based on our own experiences in aviation operations and the aircraft manufacturer's actual direct cost operating history.

By: Mutli-Aero, Darnea Wood

OST-99-5173

Service List for Great Lakes' Proposal

By: Great Lakes, Dave Thomas

February 18, 2004

Re: Letter from EAS Division to North Platte Regional Airport - Update on Essential Air Service and Request for Comment

Re: Letter from EAS Division to Jim Whitaker, Mayor of North Platte - Update on Essential Air Service and Request for Comment

Re: Letter from EAS Division to Nebraska Department of Aeronautics - Update on Essential Air Service and Request for Comments

I would like to update you on the essential air service situation at the current Nebraska essential air service situation and to give you an opportunity to submit any comments if you wish. As you know, by Order 2003-12-2, December 2, 2003, the Department solicited proposals from all interested air carriers to provide service at Grand Island, Keamey, McCook, Norfolk, North Platte, and Scottsbluff. In response to that order, we received an unprecedented 59 proposal options from six carriers-Corporate Airlines, Great Lakes Aviation, Mesa Air Group, Mesaba Aviation, Multi-Aero, and Westward Airways.

My purpose in writing to you at this time is to request any final comments you might have on the carriers' service and subsidy proposals before we submit a recommendation on the carrier selection issue to the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs.

By: Office of Aviation Analysis, Dennis DeVany

OST-96-1715 - EAS at Hastings and Kearney, Nebraska
OST-97-3005 - EAS at McCook, Nebraska
OST-98-3704 - EAS at Norfolk, Nebraska
OST-99-5173 - EAS at North Platte, Nebraska
OST-02-13983 - EAS at Grand Island, Nebraska
OST-03-14535 - EAS at Scottsbluff, Nebraska

February 25, 2004

Re: Requesting a Seven Day Extension for EAS Comments

Western Nebraska Regional Airport is formally requesting a seven day extension for EAS comments. The Airport Authority Board meeting is scheduled to meet Wednesday, March 18, 2004 which is the day the comments are due. The one week extension will allow time for the board to make an appropriate decision and relay the information to you. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

By: Darwin Skelton

Issued and Served March 11, 2004

Notice of Extension

We have received a request dated February 25, 2004, from the Airport Manager of the Western Nebraska Regional Airport in Scottsbluff, requesting a seven-day extension for submitting the airport’s comments.  In support of his request, the Airport Manager states that the Airport Authority Board meeting is scheduled for March 18, the day comments are due.

Because we recognize that scheduled meetings of local governmental bodies may occur at inopportune times relative to our letter, we will grant this request.  Many of the proposals for the six Nebraska points involve routings that link two or more essential air service communities, therefore we will grant all of the civic parties an additional week, until March 25, 2004, to submit their comments on the service proposals for their communities.

By: Dennis DeVany

OST-99-5173 - EAS at North Platte, NE

March 9, 2004

Re: Letters in Support of EAS Contract Renewal

• James Whitaker, Mayor
• Dave Mohrman, Airport Authority Board Chairman
• David Bernard-Stevens, North Platte Area Chamber President
• Brad Maul, DEVCO Executive Director

By: North Platte Regional Airport Director, Mike Sharkey

March 17, 2004

Re: Resolution Regarding EAS Contract Renewal

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the North Platte Airport Authority supports the application of Great Lakes Airlines submitted to the United States Department of Transportation to operate Essential Air Service for a two year period between North Platte, Nebraska and Denver, Colorado with three flights weekdays and two flights on weekend days using a 30-seat aircraft. The North Platte Airport Authority encourages the USDOT to favorably consider this application for EAS subsidy.

By: David Mohrman, Chairperson and John Cox, Secretary

Essential Air Service at Grand Island, Kearney, McCook, Norfolk, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Order 04-5-15
OST-02-13983 - EAS at Grand Island, NE
OST-96-1715 - EAS at Kearney, NE
OST-97-3005 - EAS at McCook, NE
OST-98-3704 - EAS at Norfolk, NE
OST-99-5173 - EAS at North Platte, NE
OST-03-14535 - EAS at Scottsbluff, NE

Issued May 20, 2004 | Served May 25, 2004

Order Selecting Carrier, Setting Final Rates, and Terminating Essential Air Service Subsidy Eligibility

By this order, we are selecting Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., to provide essential air service with subsidy support at Grand Island, Kearney, McCook, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska, for two years at a total annual subsidy of $5,233,287. We are also making final the termination of the eligibility of Norfolk, Nebraska, to receive subsidized essential air service proposed in Order 2003-6-25, June 19, 2003.

By: Karan Bhatia

Essential Air Service at Norfolk and North Platte, Nebraska

Order 2004-10-21
OST-98-3704 - EAS at Norfolk, Nebraska
OST-99-5173 - EAS at North Platte, Nebraska

Issued and Served October 29, 2004

Order Setting Final Subsidy Rates | Word

By Order 2002-5-22, May 24, 2002, the Department selected Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., to provide essential air service, with subsidy support, at Norfolk and North Platte, Nebraska, through November 30, 2003.  By Order 2003-6-25, June 19, 2003, the Department tentatively terminated the subsidy eligibility of Norfolk under the Essential Air Service Program because the subsidy per passenger exceeded the $200 per passenger statutory ceiling and the community is less than 210 highway miles from the medium hub airport at Omaha.

By Order 2004-5-15, May 20, 2004, the Department selected Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., to provide essential air service, with subsidy support, at five Nebraska communities, including North Platte.  This selection became effective at North Platte on July 1, 2004.  The same order also made final the Department’s tentative action in Order 2003-6-25 and terminated Norfolk’s eligibility to receive subsidized essential air service, effective July 10, 2004.  There is a past period of approximately seven months associated with Great Lakes Aviation’s service at each of these two communities for which the carrier has not received compensation.  For the past period, we are setting rates based on rate negotiations that we have completed with Great Lakes.  We have reviewed the carrier’s proposals and find these rates reasonable for the service provided.

The following table indicates the rates and dates of the compensation for each community: 

By: Karan Bhatia

Order 2006-3-10
OST-2002-13983 - Grand Island, NE
OST-1996-1715 - Kearney, NE
OST-1997-3005 - McCook, NE
OST-1999-5173 - North Platte, NE
OST-2003-14535 - Scottsbluff, NE

Issued and Served March 13, 2006

Order Requesting Proposals - Bookmarked

By Order 2004-5-15, May 25, 2004, the Department selected Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., to provide essential air service with subsidy support at Grand Island, Kearney, McCook, North Platte, and Scottsbluff. Nebraska, through June 30, 2006, at a total annual subsidy of $5,233,287. Under that order, Great Lakes provides three nonstop round trips to Denver with Beech 1900D aircraft for each community. The associated annual subsidy rates for each community were set at $1,198,396 for Grand Island, $1,166,849 for Kearney, $1,502,651 for McCook, $870,504 for North Platte, and $494,887 for Scottsbluff.

As the end of the current rate term approaches, we are here requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing service at any or all of the five Nebraska communities, with or without subsidy, for the two-year period beginning July 1, 2006. Carriers should file their proposals within 30 days of the date of service of this order.

With respect to the Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, we expect proposals consisting of service, at a minimum, with two-pilot, twin-engine aircraft with at least 15 passenger seats, and offering two round trips each weekday and each weekend with 30-passenger aircraft or three round trips each weekday and each weekend with 19-passenger aircraft from the essential air service community to a suitable hub. Regarding McCook, we noted in the current carrier selection order that we were concerned about the low traffic levels, but agreed to continue to subsidize three round trips a day, and that we would seriously consider reducing that to two round trips a day if passengers levels did not increase. During the past two years, traffic has not risen to levels that warrant three round trips a day. During 2005, McCook averaged only 7.2 enplanements per day.

With respect to Grand Island, the community has asked that we encourage carriers to consider a proposal that would offer service to a suitable hub to the east, such as Kansas City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, or St. Louis for example. We encourage proposals that meet those requirements in an efficient manner. Carriers are also welcome to propose more than one service option, if they choose; they need not limit themselves to those requirements if they envision other, potentially more attractive service possibilities -- different hubs, for example -- with subsidy requirements that remain competitive.

By: Todd Homan

OST-2002-13983 - Grand Island, NE
OST-1996-1715 - Kearney, NE
OST-1997-3005 - McCook, NE
OST-1999-5173 - North Platte, NE
OST-2003-14535 - Scottsbluff, NE

April 12, 2006

Request for Extension of Time to File Proposal for EAS at Grand Island, NE

Northwest Airlines would like to request an extension of time to file a proposal to provide essential air service at Grand Island, Nebraska. We request that the Department extend the deadline for filing proposals for 10 days.

Counsel: Northwest, Sally Veith, 202-842-2437, sally.veith@nwa.com

OST-2002-13983 - Grand Island, NE
OST-1996-1715 - Kearney, NE
OST-1997-3005 - McCook, NE
OST-1999-5173 - North Platte, NE
OST-2003-14535 - Scottsbluff, NE

April 12, 2006

Granting Request for Time Extension | Word

We have received your letter on behalf of Northwest Airlines requesting an extension to submit its proposal to provide EAS at Grand Island, Nebraska, in response to Order 2006-3-10.  That order also requested proposals for Kearney, McCook, North Platte and Scottsbluff.  Because we issued a Request for Proposals for the five communities in Nebraska as a package, we hereby grant your request and will extend the due date for all interested carriers to submit proposals for all five communities to April 21, 2006.

By: Dennis DeVany

OST-2002-13983 - Grand Island, NE
OST-1996-1715 - Kearney, NE
OST-1997-3005 - McCook, NE
OST-1999-5173 - North Platte, NE
OST-2003-14535 - Scottsbluff, NE

April 21, 2006

Proposal of Mesa Air Group, Inc. d/b/a Air Midwest - Bookmarked

Air Midwest is pleased to submit three proposals to provide Essential Air Service at these 5 Nebraska airports. Mesa's proposed options would contemplate combination service with hubs at Denver, Omaha or Kansas City. Mesa proposes to operate all flights as America West Express/US Airways Express.

All operations proposed would utilize our modem fleet of Raytheon/Beechcraft B-1900D airliners. These aircraft offer a very comfortable 19-seat, pressurized cabin with two turboprop engines.

	To Denver	To Kansas City	To Omaha
Grand Island		$59.00	$49.00
Kearney		$59.00	$49.00
McCook		$59.00	$49.00
North Platte		$59.00	$49.00
Scottsbluff	$69.00		$79.00

By: Mickey Bowman

April 20, 2006

Proposal of Big Sky Airlines - Bookmarked | Word

Market	Weekday Flights	Weekend Flights	Proposed One-way EASYFARE	Subsidy Requirement
1. Scottsbluff to Denver	3	3	$120	$625,252
2. McCook to Denver	3	3	$121	$1,893,012
3. McCook to Denver	2	2	$121	$1,242,209
4. North Platte to Denver	3	3	$123	$1,027,673
5. Kearney to Denver	3	3	$130	$1,362,543
6. Kearney to Denver (2 flights) and Kansas City (1 flight)	3	3	$130/$130	$1,355,226
7. Grand Island to Denver	3	3	$134	$1,582,363
8. Grand Island to Denver (1 flight) and Kansas City (2 flights)	3	3	$134/$99	$1,350,668
9. Grand Island to Denver (2 flights) and Kansas City (1 flight)	3	3	$134/$99	$1,479,045
10. Grand Island to Denver (1 flight) and Minneapolis (2 flights)	3	3	$134/$135	$1,555,079

Big Sky offers code-share service with its partners, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, America West Airlines, which became a much larger US Airways, after the completion of its merger, and Northwest Airlines.

Big Sky will operate the Nebraska service proposed herein with the 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D aircraft.

By: Big Sky, Fred deLeeuw, 406-247-3912, fred.deleeuw@bigskyair.com

April 21, 2006

Proposal of Great Lakes Aviation - Bookmarked

Proposal Number	Service Point(s)	Hub(s) Served	Round Trips	Subsidy Requirement
1	McCook	Denver	3	$1,911,246
2	McCook	Denver	2	$1,383,894
3	North Platte	Denver	3	$976,026
4	North Platte	Denver	2	$720,577
5	Grand Island	Denver	3	$1,390,707
6	Grand Island	Denver	2	$862,267
7	Scottsbluff	Denver	3	$520,137
8	Scottsbluff	Denver	2	$503,444
9	Kearney	Denver	3	$1,327,527
10	Kearney	Denver	2	$929,055
11	McCook/Grand Island	DEN/OMA or MCI	3	$2,250,384
12	Kearney	Denver	3	$897,142

The Great Lakes proposal contemplates conveniently timed connecting services with our Code Share partners United and Frontier at our Denver Hub or East bound Hub. Our code share agreements will give each of these Nebraska communities the greatest competitive opportunity available.

The proposal contemplates the use of pressurized 19-seat Beech 1900D's or 30-seat Brasilias.

By: Great Lakes, Michael Matthews, 307-432-7030, mmathhews@greatlakesav.com

OST-2002-13983 - Grand Island, NE

April 20, 2006

Proposal of Mesaba Airlines

Mesaba Aviation, Inc. doing business as Northwest Airlink, is enclosing its detailed subsidy proposal for essential air service at Grand Island, NE at a level of two round-trip flights per day, using 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft from Northwest's MSP hub.

Depart MSP	Arrive GRI	Depart GRI	Arrive MSP
1340	1540	0730	0940
2050	2300	1605	1805

By: Mesaba, John Spanjers

OST-2002-13983 - EAS at Grand Island, NE
OST-1996-1715 - EAS at Kearney, NE
OST-1997-3005 - EAS at McCook, NE
OST-1999-5173 - EAS at North Platte, NE
OST-2003-14535 - EAS at Scottsbluff, NE

April 27, 2006

• Letter from EAS Division to Mayor of Kearney
• Letter from EAS Division to Airport Manager of Kearney
• Letter from EAS Division to Mayor of McCook
• Letter from EAS Division to Airport Manager of McCook
• Letter from EAS Division to Mayor of North Platte
• Letter from EAS Division to Airport Manager of North Platte Regional Airport
• Letter from EAS Division to Mayor Grand Island
• Letter from EAS Division to Airport Manager of Central Nebraska Regional Airport
• Letter from EAS Division to Mayor of Scottsbluff
• Letter from EAS Division to Airport Manager of Western Nebraska Regional Airport

I would like to update you on the essential air service situation at McCook and give you an opportunity to submit any comments if you wish. As you know, by Order 2006-3-10, March 13, 2006, the Department solicited proposals from all interested air carriers to provide service at Grand Island, Kearney, McCook, North Platte, and Scottsbluff. In response to that order, we received a total of 26 proposal options from four carriers ‑ Big Sky Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines, Mesa Air Group dlb/a Air Midwest, and Mesaba Airlines. While we would normally compose a brief summary of all of the proposals, that is not practical in this case given the number of options.

OST-1999-5173

May 22, 2006

Re: City of North Platte Support for Great Lakes

The North Platte Airport Authority Board of Directors notified me that during their May 15, 2006 meeting they voted unanimously in favor of recommending that the DOT and the FAA renew Great Lakes Airlines' EAS contract for another two years.

By: G. Keith Richardson

May 22, 2006

Re: North Platte Airport Authority Support for Great Lakes

We are very pleased with the quality of air service Great Lakes Airlines has provided our community for the past four years. We have established an excellent working relationship with Chuck Howell and his management team and, as such, would very much like to have Great Lakes Airlines continue as our carrier for another two years.

By: David Mohrman

Order 2006-6-26
OST-2002-13983 - Grand Island, NE
OST-1996-1715 - Kearney, NE
OST-1997-3005 - McCook, NE
OST-1999-5173 - North Platte, NE
OST-2003-14535 - Scottsbluff, NE

Issued June 21, 2006 | Served June 26, 206

Order Selecting Carrier

By this order, we are selecting Air Midwest for service at Grand Island and McCook, Nebraska, for two years, beginning when the carrier inaugurates full service, at a total annual subsidy of $2,296,462 for both communities. Grand Island will receive two nonstop round trips to Omaha each weekday and weekend (12 total round trips per week) and one nonstop round trip each weekday and weekend to Kansas City (6 total round trips per week): McCook will receive two one-stop round trips each weekday and weekend to Omaha (12 one-stop round trips per week); both Grand Island and McCook will be served with 19-passenger Beech 1900-D aircraft.

We are also selecting Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd.. to provide essential air service with subsidy support at Kearney. North Platte, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska. for two years, beginning when Mesa Air Group d/b/a Air Midwest inaugurates service at Grand Island and McCook. at a total annual subsidy ofS2,393.305 ($897,142 for Kearney; $976,026 for North Platte; and $520,137 for Scottsbluff). Each community will receive three nonstop round trips to Denver each weekday and weekend (18 total round trips per week) with Beech 1900-D aircraft.

The total annual subsidy for all five Nebraska communities in this Order is $4,689,767 compared to the current rates of $5,233,287.

By: Michael Reynolds

Order 2006-6-26
OST-2002-13983 - Grand Island, NE
OST-1996-1715 - Kearney, NE
OST-1997-3005 - McCook, NE
OST-1999-5173 - North Platte, NE
OST-2003-14535 - Scottsbluff, NE

June 23, 2006

Clarification to Order 2006-6-26

Order 2006-6-26 reselected Great Lakes to provide EAS at Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff beginning July 1, 2006, but selected Air Midwest to replace Great Lakes at Grand Island and McCook. As we discussed on page 6 of the Order, we want to keep all communities on the same time cycle. As stated in the "Action on Great Lakes' provision of service for an interim period" paragraph on page 7 of the Order, the Department will reset the two-year clock at all five Nebraska communities on the date that Air Midwest inaugurates service at Grand Island and McCook. Therefore, in Appendices C, pages 3 through 5, the effective period should read "Date of inauguration of service by Air Midwest at Grand Island and McCook through the end of the 24th month thereafter."

In addition, because Air Midwest will not be able to inaugurate service at Grand Island or McCook by July 1, we need to set short‑term payouts for Great Lakes for the two communities from July 1 until Air Midwest takes over. The attached appendices with subsidy per flight and weekly compensation ceilings for Great Lakes' service at Grand Island and McCook should have been included in Order 2006‑6‑26.

By: Kevin Schlemmer

Order 2008-5-6
OST-1996-1715 - Kearney, NE
OST-1999-5173 - North Platte, NE
OST-2003-14535 - Scottsbluff, NE

Issued and Served May 7, 2008

Order Requesting Proposals | Word

By this order, the Department is requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing essential air service at Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska, for the two-year period beginning November 1, 2008, with or without subsidy. Proposals are due June 20, 2008.

With specific respect to Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, we expect proposals to Denver or another suitable hub with connections to the national air transportation system with 15-seat or larger, pressured aircraft, with three nonstop round trips a day (18 per week).

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. was selected to provide essential air service with subsidy support at Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, for two years, beginning when Air Midwest, Inc. d/b/a US Airways Express, inaugurated service at Grand Island and McCook, which it did on October 29, 2006, at a total annual subsidy of $2,393,305 ($897,142 for Kearney; $976,026 for North Platte; and $520,137 for Scottsbluff). Each community currently receives three nonstop round trips to Denver each weekday and weekend (18 total round trips per week) with Beech 1900-D aircraft.

By: Todd Homan

OST-1996-1715 - Kearney, NE
OST-1999-5173 - North Platte, NE
OST-2003-14535 - Scottsbluff, NE

June 20, 2008

Re: Proposals of Great Lakes Aviation

Proposal #	Service Point	Hub(s) Served	Round Trips	Equipment	Subsidy Requirement	Passengers Forecast	Average Fare
1	Kearney	Denver	3	1900D	$1,978,386	22,500	$117.72
2	North Platte	Denver	3	1900D	$1,860,229	20,000	$109.70
3	Scottsbluff	Denver	3	1900D	$1,535,085	20,000	$97.58

By: Great Lakes, Michael Matthews, 307-432-7000

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