California Pacific Airlines canceled its Essential Air Service flights for Pierre and Watertown to and from Denver yesterday (Thurs.) and today– so Pierre’s mayor is recommending travelers make alternate plans for the near future.
Steve Harding told DRG news and farm he met with US Department of Transportation and Watertown city officials via conference call this (Fri.) morning.
Harding says the good news is there’s at least one air carrier interested in providing service to the two towns.
CP Air’s service was initially reliable, but that has changed drastically in the past few months.
Harding says getting a new airline in place—if that’s what US DOT determines is the best course of action– will take a couple months.
Again, airlines have until Feb. 13 to submit proposals to the USDOT.
Service began to fall off in November when the airline added flights out of California to Las Vegas and Phoenix. Mechanical issues for three of the company’s four planes, caused cancellations and delays starting around Thanksgiving. In December, CP Air– formerly known as Aerodynamics, Incorporated or ADI– canceled more than 25 percent of its EAS flights for Pierre and Watertown going to and from Denver.
