As you may know, CIU is an Essential Air Service Airport.   On July 14^th, 2009, Mesaba Airlines Inc. d/b/a Delta Connection, filed a 90 day notice of its intent to suspend its subsidy-free service.  This opened the bidding process for any air carrier to bid to service CIU airport.  Mesaba bid on operating the same service they provide now, but for a fee.  The bid was rejected and the bidding process reopened.  Mesaba again bid on providing the same 2 flights a day service, standing pat on their original bid.  In addition there was another bid made by Intrepid International Airlines who would provide only one 50 seat jet per day from CIU to APN to LAN to MDW and has no code share, ticket, baggage, mileage agreements with any major carrier.  The bidding process is now closed for bids, but is open to community comments. 

The Department of Transportation (DOT) dockets can be viewed online at http://www.regulations.gov.  Once at the website, in the enter keyword or ID box enter DOT-OST-2009-0303. This will open a list of documents covering the Essential Air Service bids and comments for Chippewa County International Airport.

Public comments are welcome and helpful in the decision making process and also for future proposals of air service for CIU Airport.

Please submit comments to support CIU air service provided by Mesaba Airlines, d/b/a Delta Connection. Let DOT know how important Mesaba air service at CIU is to your business or personal travel needs.  Not only The DOT looks at your comments but also Delta Airlines who may see by the comments submitted that there is a big interest in CIU market. This could help improve air service to CIU with regional jets or a third flight in the future.   Please submit your comment at the DOT website above.

Thank-You,

Faye Dumback

Regional Elite Airline Services

Mesaba Airlines Inc, d/b/a Delta Connection

CIU Station Manager

906-495-2522