Order: 2018-3-27 Issued: March 28, 2018

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation on the 28th day of March , 2018

Essential Air Service at

PAGE, ARIZONA DOCKET DOT-OST-1997-2694 PRESCOTT, ARIZONA DOCKET DOT-OST-1996-1899 SALINA, DOCKET DOT-OST-2002-11376

under 49 U.S.C. § 41731 et seq.

ORDER PROHIBITING TERMINATION OF SERVICE

Summary By this Order, the United States Department of Transportation (the Department) is prohibiting Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Great Lakes) from terminating its subsidized service at Page and Prescott, Arizona, and requiring that it continue service until conclusion of this (EAS) selection case. The Department is also prohibiting Great Lakes from terminating its subsidized service at Salina, Kansas, and requiring that it continue service until April 8, 2018. On April 9, 2018, SkyWest Airlines Inc. (SkyWest) is scheduled to becomes Salina’s new EAS provider per Order 2017-12-22 (December 21, 2017).

Background and Eligibility On March 26, 2018, Great Lakes ceased all operations at Page, Prescott and Salina, effective immediately. Great Lakes failed to file the required 90-day notices of termination.1 The termination affects the communities as follows. At Page, Great Lakes provided 12 to 24 weekly nonstop round trips (based on seasonality) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and/or Denver International Airport. At Prescott, Great Lakes provided 12 weekly nonstop round trips to Los Angeles International Airport. At Salina, Great Lakes provided 12 weekly nonstop round trips per week to Denver. The Department has already issued a request for emergency replacement service by Order 2018-3-25 on March 27, 2018, for Page and Prescott.

1 A notice of service suspension was posted on Great Lakes’ website at www.flygreatlakes.com. The carrier failed to provide to the Department the notice required under 49 U.S.C. § 41734. - 2 -

Hold-In Basic EAS requirements guarantee a minimum of two round trips a day, six days a week, to a large- or medium-hub airport.2 Great Lakes’ termination of service caused Page, Prescott, and Salina to be left with no scheduled air service, and therefore, the Department is prohibiting Great Lakes from terminating such service at Page and Prescott until the end of the required 90-day notice period, which runs through June 24, 2018.3 In the case of Salina, Great Lakes is prohibited from terminating its service through April 8, 2018, at which point SkyWest is scheduled to inaugurate full EAS. The Department reminds Great Lakes that it is required by 49 U.S.C. § 41732(b)(1)(a) to provide a minimum of 12 round trips per week at all three communities. Failure to comply with these minimum service requirements may result in referral of the matter to the Department’s Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings.

This Order is issued under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.25a(b).

ACCORDINGLY, 1. The Department prohibits Great Lakes Aviation Ltd. from suspending service at Page and Prescott, Arizona, and requires it to maintain service at the communities, as set forth in Appendix A until the end of the required 90-day notice period, and for an initial 30-day period through July 24, 2018, or other date as may be established by a subsequent Departmental Order;

2. The Department prohibits Great Lakes Aviation Ltd. from suspending service at Salina, Kansas, prior to April 8, 2018, and requires it to maintain service at the community, as set forth in Appendix A;

3. These dockets will remain open until further order of the Department; and

4. The Department will serve copies of this order on Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., the civic officials of Page and Prescott, Arizona, and Salina, Kansas, the airport managers at Page Municipal Airport and Prescott Municipal Airport, and Salina Regional Airport.

By:

Joel Szabat Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

(SEAL) An electronic version of this document is available online at www.regulations.gov

2 49 U.S.C. § 41732 (a) & (b)(1). 3 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 41734 (b) & (c), the Department will extend Great Lakes’ service obligation for successive 30-day periods as necessary. Appendix A

Essential Air Service to be maintained at Page and Prescott, Arizona, and Salina, Kansas

Effective Period: Through July 24, 2018, or until further Department action for Page and Prescott, and through April 8, 2018, for Salina

Hubs: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and/or Denver International Airport for Page Los Angeles International Airport for Prescott Denver International Airport for Salina

Frequency: 12 to 24 weekly nonstop round trips (based on seasonality) at Page 12 weekly nonstop round trips at Prescott 12 weekly nonstop round trips at Salina

Aircraft: 19-seat Beech 1900D at Page 30-seat Brasilia EMB 120 at Prescott 30-seat Brasilia EMB 120 at Salina