The mayors of Pierre and Watertown have received official notice that Aerodynamics, Incorporated, doing business as California Pacific Airlines (CP Air), has ended Essential Airline Service to both communities. The mayors have also been told the US Department of Transportation is expediting the bid process to get a different Essential Air Service carrier in place.
According to memorandums from CP Air officials, all employees have been placed on furlough effective Friday (Jan. 18, 2019) for approximately three weeks. Additionally, the airline says, “Any future focus may be charter and California.”
Pierre mayor Steve Harding says for now, those with tickets and those who intended to buy tickets to fly out of Pierre and Watertown should make other arrangements.
Although expedited, Harding says the bid proposal process still takes time.
With the new proposals, may come new flight options.
Originally, the USDOT set a Feb. 13 deadline for all airline proposals. That deadline has now been moved up to Jan. 30.
The USDOT makes the ultimate EAS contract agreements, but does give EAS communities the opportunity to review the proposals and make a recommendation.
People who are directly impacted by the airline shutdown should contact CP Air directly at 1.855.505.9394 or customerservice@mycpair.com. Impacted travelers can also visit transportation.gov/airconsumer for additional resources.
