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Monday, January 24, 2005

Service Terminations

  • Citing new security requirements imposed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) has notified the DOT of its intent to reduce service to Macon, Ga., by more than 33 percent effective Jan. 31. It will no longer provide service to Macon with ATR-72 aircraft capable of carrying 66 passengers. ASA had intended to increase the number of ATR-72 flights between Macon and Atlanta. However, the TSA has determined the airport did not meet security requirement for larger aircraft. The TSA won't permit any aircraft larger than 60 seats to use the Macon airport. On Jan. 1, ASA had begun a schedule using both the 66-seat ATR-72 and a 50- seat Bombardier [BBD] CRJ 200 providing the community with 256 daily one-way seats. Because of the TSA rule, ASA will now be limited to flying two daily flights to Macon using the RJs. ASA said it hopes to schedule additional RJ flights to Macon when equipment becomes available. OST-05-20121
  • DOT has issued an order prohibiting SkyWest [SKYW] from discontinuing its service between Visalia, Calif., and Los Angeles. In late December, SkyWest filed a notice with DOT stating its intent to end the unsubsidized Essential Air Service (EAS) flights on March 15. SkyWest said that it averaged only a 6 percent load factor on the 30-seat Brasilias it is flying on that route as a United Express carrier. It has two daily roundtrip flights to Los Angeles. SkyWest suggested the community might be better served by a carrier with a smaller plane and perhaps a different destination. While Visalia is 177 miles from Los Angeles, it is 188 miles to San Francisco and 35 miles to Fresno, which has RJ service to seven cities. In the meantime, the DOT is soliciting proposals from other carriers to provide new service to Visalia. An EAS subsidy would be limited to no more than $415,400. OST-04-19916-2
  • Horizon Air recently filed notice with DOT of its intent to discontinue its scheduled flights between Pendelton, Ore., and Portland, Ore., on April 3. While Horizon does not get an EAS subsidy for the flights, a 1985 DOT order determined that there were to be two daily flights from Pendleton. Horizon has been providing the service with a 37- seat Bombardier Q200. In its notice, Horizon cited higher fuel and airport costs as the reason for discontinuing the service. The carrier said it would be willing to continue the flights if it were to receive an EAS subsidy. Pendleton is 200 miles from the nearest major airport and it is the hometown of U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith. OST-04-19934
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