SkyWest Airlines is asking the US Department of Transportation to rebid the federal Essential Air Service contracts for providing commercial air service to the airports in Pierre and Watertown.
In a letter to the USDOT (dated April 28, 2021), SkyWest Market Development Director Greg Atkin said the company believes issuing a rebid will allow for fresh carrier bids and will give Pierre and Watertown “the best chance of receiving realistic proposals that best meet the needs of the communities and support the mission of the Essential Air Service program.”
Pierre mayor Steve Harding says after several years of less than reliable service, SkyWest– flying as United Express– brought traffic back to the Pierre Regional Airport.
While they do take the community’s preference into consideration, Harding says USDOT makes the decision.
As of yesterday (May 3) afternoon, Harding says he hadn’t heard yet if USDOT was willing to rebid the EAS contracts for Pierre and Watertown. But, he said, the town will work with whichever carrier gets the contract.
Last month (April 13, 2021), the US Department of Transportation notified Pierre and Watertown it had selected Denver Air Connection (and its subsidiary Key Lime Airlines) to get the EAS contracts that had been scheduled to begin June 1, 2021. Denver Air requested to delay the start of providing service until July 1, 2021.
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