December 2, 2020

Michael D. Gormas United States Department of Transportation Office of Aviation Analysis 1200 New Jersey Ave SE Washington, DC 20590

RE: at Pierre, SD – Docket DOT-OST-2011-0138

Dear Mr. Gormas,

I am writing to support the reselection of SkyWest Airlines as the provider of Essential Air Service at Pierre Regional Airport. SkyWest has provided service to Pierre since 2019. With the quality service provided by SkyWest (dba ), traffic at Pierre Regional Airport skyrocketed prior to the pandemic. The nonstop jet service to offers my constituents the ability to connect to more than 270 destinations, increasing opportunities for business development and leisure travel for our citizens and providing a gateway for tourists from around the country and the world to explore the beauty of . In addition, SkyWest has given us the opportunity to begin service from Chicago to Pierre next year as well, which would provide access to more than 70 new destinations. I strongly support the addition of these routes to Chicago should SkyWest be selected. In short, the improved service offered by SkyWest maximizes the economic development opportunities for the citizens of the Pierre area.

It is exciting to see that three different airlines expressed enough interest in the Pierre market to submit proposals to provide service. I trust that the DOT will use this process to select the best carrier for the long-term success of Essential Air Service in Pierre and the community. That notwithstanding, I do not feel that Boutique Air or are appropriate choices for Pierre, considering the inferior quality of service they propose and the success that SkyWest has had in developing our market.

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SkyWest’s full integration as United Express, which neither Boutique or Denver Air Connection offer, plays a key role in developing our market. SkyWest features the highest safety, maintenance, and training protocols as an FAA Part 121 carrier, and its pricing integration with offers lower fares and corporate loyalty/discount programs for our businesses. Boutique and Denver Air Connection do not offer United MileagePlus frequent flier miles on the first flight from Pierre, they do not offer fares through the Federal Government’s GSA Fares program, and they are not party to the substantial discounts that United Airlines offers for government travel for the State of South Dakota—all key advantages of SkyWest. In addition, Boutique’s lack of cabin- class aircraft would be a significant downgrade for Pierre’s residents. Finally, SkyWest is the only one of the three that offers United’s branded COVID-19 standards and protocols, a critical consideration during this difficult time.

I cannot express enough my enthusiasm for SkyWest to be the carrier selected for continued service at Pierre Regional Airport. I harbor grave concerns about the potential impact of switching service providers in this environment, and particularly what that decision would do for the progress the airport and SkyWest have made over the past two years. Selecting another carrier would dilute the effectiveness of the immense investment the community has made in supporting the SkyWest service.

Sincerely,

Kristi Noem Governor