PenAir replaces Colgan
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Peninsula Airways (PenAir), of Anchorage, has been named the new air carrier for the Northern Maine Regional Airport.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, ranking member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, was informed of the decision via phone call from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, indicating the U.S. Department of Transportation had selected the Alaska-based carrier to provide air service to and from Presque Isle. In addition, PenAir and Cape Air will jointly provide service to and from the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport.
PenAir will use a 34-passenger Saab 340 aircraft to operate 19 weekly round trips, year-round, between Presque Isle and Boston. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Cape Air will provide just one daily round trip, but PenAir will provide two additional daily nonstop flights between Bar Harbor and Boston, using the Saab.
Collins stressed the economic importance to the region of securing a qualified carrier.
“As a native of Aroostook County, I understand how important regularly scheduled and reliable air service is to rural areas,” said Sen. Collins.
“When I spoke to Secretary LaHood, I stressed how critical this is not only for residents, but also for the economic well-being of our communities. I commend Secretary LaHood for listening to my concerns and for working to ensure that these communities can continue to depend on reliable air service to help attract business, promote tourism and create jobs,” continued Collins.
U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, hailed news that the U.S. DOT had agreed to terms that would continue essential air service (EAS) at both the NMRA in Presque Isle and the airport in Trenton.
“I am pleased to officially welcome the PenAir team to Maine as they prepare to service the Presque Isle and Bar Harbor airports, and I congratulate Cape Air on expanding its reach in Maine by serving Bar Harbor as well,” said Sen. Snowe.
“I look forward to working hand-in-glove with both airlines and officials at each airport to ensure Mainers continue to have affordable, reliable and convenient service in both markets. Additionally, as I urged the DOT to maintain the use of larger aircraft, I am pleased that PenAir will be utilizing 34-seat aircraft, and that they will continue to connect rural areas of our state with Boston, which is home to New England’s largest airport and connections to major cities across the United States, Europe and the Caribbean,” noted Snowe.
Congressman Mike Michaud, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has been working to ensure both communities retain EAS service that meets their needs. He joined Collins and Snowe in welcoming the two airlines to Maine’s EAS lineup.
“I’m pleased the DOT has secured replacement carriers,” said Michaud. “The loss of this service would have been devastating to both Bar Harbor and Presque Isle. I look forward to working with the communities to make sure these replacements are a success in each region.”
Michaud has been a leading voice in the fight to preserve the EAS program in Congress. On Dec. 1, 2011, Michaud received confirmation from the DOT that it was committed to making sure that the carrier selected to provide replacement EAS service was able to meet the needs of the local communities.
In January, Snowe received an official commitment to her November 2011 letter to LaHood urging his continued support for the program at NMRA. Snowe had called on the secretary to enforce a 15-seat minimum for any carrier that serves the Presque Isle to Boston route. In his letter, LaHood agreed with Snowe that smaller aircraft would be inadequate for Aroostook County.
Snowe also met with PenAir’s CEO, Danny Seybert, and president, Scott Bloomquist, in December to discuss their possible bid for these routes. Earlier this year, she visited the Presque Isle airport, meeting with airport and city officials to hear their concerns and learn more about what type of service was needed at NMRA.
According to the DOT, at Bar Harbor, Hyannis Air Service Inc., operating as Cape Air, and Peninsula Airways (PenAir) will jointly provide EAS for a four-year term.
Colgan Air, Inc., which operates as US Airways Express, was re-selected in 2010 to provide EAS in Presque Isle and Bar Harbor for another two-year contract. In September 2011, Colgan filed a notice of intent to terminate its service to the airports. The DOT requested proposals from airlines interested in providing a replacement EAS service. On Nov. 22, the DOT indicated it would prohibit Colgan Air from terminating its subsidized service until a replacement was found.
