Gem Air (Salmon) has lodged an application with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin Essential Air Service (EAS) flights to Chadron and Alliance in Nebraska. Great Lakes Airlines (Cheyenne) is the holder of the existing EAS contract plying flights between both towns and Denver International until May this year when the contract expires.
Local press reports state the towns have been cooperating with the Sixel Consulting Group on finding a replacement for Great Lakes, which has had cancellation problems despite cutting service to each town to one flight a day while at the same time reducing available capacity.
In its proposal, Gem Air says it would provide both communities with 12 non-stop, weekly, round-trip flights to Denver International.
"The total annual subsidy under this offer would be USD3,177,640 and the proposal for each community is submitted on an inseparable basis," it said.
Gem Air is requesting a 2 year contract with a service start date of September 14, 2015.
Founded in 1982, the Idaho-based operation specializes in year-round scheduled flights between Salmon and Boise, Idaho, charter flights. It is the first time the carrier is hoping to get a piece of the Essential Air Services business.
