Proposals sought for air service

The U.S. Department of Transportation is accepting proposals from airlines willing to provide commercial air service to the Shoals and nearly two dozen other communities across the country.

The request is part of an order that prohibits Pinnacle Airlines, which does business locally as Delta Connection, from suspending service at the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals until a new carrier is selected and able to provide air service to the community.

The order covers 23 communities served by Pinnacle, Mesaba and Sky West airlines in Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

In each community, Pinnacle, Sky West and Mesaba provide commuter air service for Delta Air Lines, which announced earlier in the year its intentions to cease air service in those areas.

The airline has asked to terminate service in those communities by Oct. 13, but the order includes a “hold in” clause that requires the airlines to remain past their termination dates and continue providing the same level of service.

In the Shoals, Pinnacle must continue to provide air service for “successive 30-day periods” until the replacement process has been completed and the selected carrier can begin service.

Proposals from airlines interested in providing the service must be filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation by Oct. 12, according to the order.

Airport Director Barry Griffith said when the proposals are in, a subcommittee of the Shoals Air Services Committee will review them and make a recommendation. He said that process could take a couple of weeks.

“It’s all dependant on who submits proposals,” Griffith said. “I feel confident there will be a qualified proposal this time, and I’m hopeful it will be a strong partner for our community and be able to serve those preferential markets the community would like to fly to.”

Delta provides jet service to and from Memphis.

The subcommittee will include Griffith, Airport Board Chairman Rick Elliott and members Braxton Ashe and Joe McKinney. They will be joined by members of the Air Services Committee and Chamber of Commerce President Steve Holt.

Gulfstream International Airlines, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was selected earlier this year to serve the Shoals, but the company withdrew its proposal when it could not secure a code-sharing agreement with Delta.

Griffith said the criteria for Shoals air service has not changed in the new request for proposals.

The carrier must provide at least 12 nonstop flights per week to a medium or large hub if a 34-seat aircraft is used, 14 nonstop flights if a 30-seat aircraft is used and 18 flights per week if a 19-seat aircraft is used. The use of smaller planes would have to be approved by the community and the Department of Transportation.

http://www.timesdaily.com