BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Notice of 

MESABA AVIATION, INC.

	d/b/a MESABA AIRLINES 

of intent to terminate service at Lafayette,

Indiana pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 41734 

and 14 C.F.R. § 323

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)	Docket OST-02-



Dated:  September 18, 2002

NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE AT

Lafayette, indiana

Mesaba Aviation, Inc. d/b/a Mesaba Airlines (“Mesaba”) hereby
submits notice, pursuant to 49 U.S.C § 41734 and 14 C.F.R. § 323.3, of
its intent to terminate service to Lafayette, Indiana, effective
December 18, 2002.  Mesaba provides this service as Northwest Airlink. 
In support of this Notice, Mesaba states the following:

1.	Mesaba is a certificated air carrier, whose corporate office is
located at:

		7501 26th Avenue South

		Minneapolis, MN  55450

		(612) 726-5151.

2.	Communications with respect to this Notice should be directed to:

		Robert E. Weil

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Mesaba Airlines

7501 26th Avenue South

		Minneapolis, MN  55450

		(612) 726-5151

FAX:  (612) 726-5168

3.	No other carrier is currently serving Lafayette, Indiana from a large
or medium hub. (BRAD, CONFIRM  TRUE).   The Department, however, cannot
require continuation of service to Lafayette beyond the 90-day
termination notice period because Lafayette is located 61 highway miles
from a medium hub airport: Indianapolis International Airport.  

4.	The routing and schedule of the service that Mesaba is terminating on
December 18, 2002 is as follows:  

From		Departure	To		Arrival	FrequencyDTW		13:50		YNG		15:42		Daily one
stop via CAK

DTW		19:50		YNG		20:52		Daily one stop via CAK

DTW               1604		LAF		1631		Daily nonstop

DTW		1925		LAF		1951		Daily nonstop except Sat

YNG		16:05		DTW		17:59		Daily one stop via CAK

YNG		07:30		DTW		09:25		Daily one stop via CAK

LAF		0640		DTW		0910		Daily nonstop

LAF		1735		DTW		1955		Daily nonstop except Sat

5.	Mesaba operates these flights with Saab SF340 aircraft (30 - 34
passenger seats).

6.	Mesaba intends to terminate Lafayette service on December 18, 2002.

7.	In 1983, the Department determined that the level of essential air
service for Lafayette, Indiana is two daily nonstop roundtrips to/from
Chicago providing a minimum of 62 seats in each direction.  Order 83-6-3
(June 1, 1983).  In 1999, however, the Department determined that it
could not subsidize any carrier serving Lafayette because this community
is 61 highway miles from Indianapolis International Airport, a medium
hub.  Order 99-6-21 (June 25, 1999).  Because the Department is unable
to subsidize service to/from Lafayette, it cannot require any carrier to
continue serving the community beyond the 90-day termination notice
period.   Id.  The Department, nevertheless, continues to require notice
of service termination, and Mesaba is complying with this notice
requirement.

8.	The effective date of this Notice is September 18, 2002.  Objections
to this Notice are due within 20 days of this Notice.

9.	As required by 14 C.F.R. § 323.7(a), this Notice is being served
upon all persons listed on the attached service list.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Robert E. Weil /s/

Robert E. Weil

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

MESABA AIRLINES

7501 26TH Avenue South

Minneapolis, MS  55450

(612) 726-5151

Dated:  September 18, 2002

SERVICE LIST

On this 18th day of September 2002, a copy of this NOTICE OF TERMINATION
was served by first class mail, postage prepaid, upon each of the
persons below:

Dennis DeVany, Chief

EAS and Domestic Analysis, X-53

U.S. Department of Transportation

400 Seventh Street, S.W.

Room 6417I

Washington, D.C.  20590

	Robert Stroud

Manager

Lafayette Purdue University Airport

Terminal Building #104

Airport Road W

Lafayette, IN  47906



Mayor David Heath

City of Lafayette

City Hall

Lafayette, IN  47906

	

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(continued…)

NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF

MESABA AIRLINES

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