Airport App to Sec. Mineta - Air Service Pilot Program
Office of the Mayor and City Council
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
www.cityofdubuque.org
T.HE CITY OF l---~/~ _~-
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DUBUQ E
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March 28, 2006
Norman Mineta, DOT Secretary
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Aviation Analysis and Evaluation
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Secretary Mineta:
This letter endorses the Dubuque Regional Airport's application for the Small
Community Air Service Development Pilot Program. We support their plan of improving
air service, which will benefit everyone in the tri-state region. The money received from
this grant will help the Dubuque Regional Airport continue to be a strong and vital link to
our business community for recruitment and expansion for now and in the future.
The City of Dubuque and the entire tri-state region benefit greatly because of the
Dubuque Regional Airport. The business community is very reliant on the Dubuque
Regional Airport to provide the air transportation needed to compete in a global
economy. Therefore, our efforts to assist existing businesses and to expand our local
economic base are dependent on our ability to improve the jet service available to our
community.
The air service industry has never recovered since 9/11. The airline industry is currently
in a dynamic change. Communities across the nation continue to have commercial air
service challenges, and Dubuque has been no different. Communities large and small
have been forced into the position to market air service and provide incentives to retain
and attract commercial air service.
The Dubuque Regional Airport currently provides four daily flights on American Eagle
Airlines with jet service connecting Dubuque with one of the country's largest hubs,
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Changes in the airline industry have forced
smaller airports wanting to expand service, to offer incentives to bring additional air
service into the area. The most common incentive is to guarantee revenue earnings to
the air service provider. The City Council has approved a $250,000 guarantee to assist
with expansion. This allows Dubuque the opportunity to add additional air service and a
SelVice
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovation
Teamwork
. Norman Mineta, DOT Secretary
March 28, 2006
Page 2
destination other than O'Hare, offering more options to the business community and
resident air travelers.
The Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program will also help the
Dubuque Regional Airport attain this goal. To acquire air capacity and service in the tri-
state region this grant application is not only desirous, but also necessary to continue
the growth and expansion of our community.
Thank you for your consideration of Dubuque Regional Airport's grant application. If
you require any further information, please feel free to contact me at (563) 589-4110.
Sincerely yours,
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Roy D. Buol
Mayor
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cc: Dubuque City Council