Three airlines bid on local contract
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The Northern Maine Regional Airport could have a new Essential Air Service carrier before the end of the month, following review of three bids by the Airport Advisory Board, with the final decision being made by City Council as early as Jan. 23.
Following word that three airlines had bid to provide service to rural Maine airports, Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe expressed their approval of the process to extend service to Presque Isle and Bar Harbor facilities.
Snowe, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, applauded news that Peninsula Airways (PenAir) has submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation a bid to provide air service to Presque Isle and Bar Harbor. Snowe met with PenAir’s CEO, Danny Seybert, and president, Scott Bloomquist, on Dec. 20 to discuss their proposal.
“It is absolutely vital Maine’s rural communities like those surrounding Presque Isle are connected with an air service that is safe, cost-effective and convenient,” said Snowe.
Collins, ranking member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, said the U.S. DOT had received four proposals from airlines to maintain service to NMRA in Presque Isle and the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport in Trenton. Three of the airlines — Air Choice One, Peninsula Airways and Sovereign Air — submitted bids to operate service to and from both airports. Cape Air submitted a bid for service to Bar Harbor only. Sovereign is based out of North Dakota, Air Choice One is headquartered in St. Louis, while PenAir calls Alaska home.
“I have contacted Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to express how important it is to maintain safe, reliable, daily air service to Presque Isle and Bar Harbor,” said Collins. “I made clear that it is critical that any airline chosen to take over this service, especially to NMRA because of its significant distance from the nearest airport in Bangor, must commit to maintaining aircraft large enough to accommodate the local community’s needs.”
“I am grateful Secretary LaHood agrees with me that smaller eight- or nine-seat aircraft are wholly inadequate to serve flights from locations as far apart as Boston and Presque Isle,” said Snowe, agreeing with Collins on how vitally important it is to maintain rural air service to communities like those in Aroostook County.
Colgan Air, Inc., which operates as US Airways Express, was re-selected in 2010 to provide EAS in Presque Isle for another two-year contract. In September 2011, Colgan filed a notice of intent to terminate its service to Presque Isle,
The submission of bids began a 30-day comment period which is expected to conclude on Tuesday, Feb. 7, unless an extension is requested by a member of the public. Individuals can submit comments at EAS@dot.gov. A final decision is expected by approximately early April, according to Snowe’s office.
Scott Wardwell, NMRA director, said the process for selecting a carrier will be handled in two parts locally.
“The bids will go before the Airport Advisory Board. The Board will then make a recommendation to the City Council, for consideration at the Jan. 23 meeting at City Hall. The U.S. DOT would like official public comments back by Feb. 7,” said Wardwell.
