Jan. 6, 2026:
December was the third busiest month of people flying out of the Pierre Regional Airport in 2025.
City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga said there were 1768 enplanements, which falls in line behind what are traditionally the busiest months at the airport.
Pierre changed essential air service carriers in August, going from regional carrier Denver Air Connection to international company United Airlines, via SkyWest flying as United Express. Huizenga said the change has gone smoothly.
SkyWest/United Express currently provides 12 weekly round-trip flights between Pierre and the Denver International Airport.
SkyWest also serves the Watertown Regional Airport. From there, they provide Delta flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and United Express flights to Denver.
The federal Essential Air Service program provides a subsidy to the company providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country. As a designated EAS airport, if Pierre surpasses the 10,000 boardings number within a year, it becomes eligible to receive $1-million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help support airport operations.
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Dec. 2, 2025:
November was the Pierre Regional Airport’s busiest month for enplanements so far this year.
City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga said 1952 people boarded planes to leave Pierre last month.
The federal Essential Air Service program provides a subsidy to the company providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country. As a designated EAS airport, if Pierre surpasses the 10,000 boardings number within a year, it becomes eligible to receive $1-million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help support airport operations.
Huizenga gave credit for the uptick in enplanement numbers the past four months to SkyWest taking over the federal EAS contract for Pierre and to the extra flights SkyWest provided during October and November to accommodate South Dakota’s pheasant hunting season.
SkyWest– who flies as United Express– currently provides 12 weekly round-trip flights between Pierre and the Denver International Airport.
SkyWest also serves the Watertown Regional Airport. From there, they provide Delta flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and United Express flights to Denver.
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Nov. 5, 2025:
Nearly 2000 people flew out of the Pierre Regional Airport in October 2025.
That’s the word from Pierre City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga at this week’s commission meeting (Nov. 4, 2025).
Huizenga says this is the increase in usage he was hoping to see by supporting SkyWest’s bid to take over the federal essential air service contract for Pierre.
Huizenga says enplanement numbers aren’t just statistics– they’re “real people flying in and out of Pierre.”
SkyWest, flying as United Express, holds the federal essential air service contract with the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide commercial air service for the Pierre Regional Airport. The EAS program provides a subsidy to the company providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country.
The federal government shutdown is causing disruptions at airports because air traffic controllers, TSA agents and others aren’t receiving paychecks, but Huizenga says they information they have says the EAS program is covered until mid-month (Nov. 18, 2025).
SkyWest currently provides 12 weekly round-trip flights between Pierre and the Denver International Airport. SkyWest also serves the Watertown Regional Airport. They provide Delta flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and United Express flights to Denver.
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Oct. 8, 2025:
229 more people flew out of the Pierre Regional Airport in Sept. this year than did in Sept. 2024.
Pierre City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga says 1488 passengers boarded in Pierre, taking the airport over the critical 10,000 enplanements threshold.
SkyWest, flying as United Express, took over as the federal essential air service contract holder for the Pierre Regional Airport on Aug. 1, 2025. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s EAS program provides a subsidy to the commercial air carrier providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country.
At this point, Huizenga says, SkyWest isn’t anticipating any disruptions in service because of the federal government shutdown.
SkyWest currently provides 12 weekly round-trip flights between Pierre and the Denver International Airport.
SkyWest also serves the Watertown Regional Airport. They provide Delta flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and United Express flights to Denver.
2025 enplanements:
- January– 976
- February– 1020
- March– 1026
- April– 924
- May– 1199
- June– 1165
- July– 1218
- August– 1311
- September– 1488 (running total= 10,216)
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Sept. 3, 2025:
SkyWest, flying as United Express, took over as the federal essential air service contract holder for the Pierre Regional Airport on Aug. 1, 2025.
In that first month, City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga says 1311 people flew out of Pierre.
Huizenga says the end of July marked the end of Denver Air Connection’s federal EAS contract for Pierre.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s EAS program provides a subsidy to the commercial air carrier providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country. As an EAS airport, if the Pierre Regional Airport exceeds 10,000 boardings in one year, it’s eligible to receive $1-million from the USDOT to help support airport operations.
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Aug. 5, 2025:
More than 1200 people flew out of the Pierre Regional Airport in July 2025.
That’s according to Pierre City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga.
Huizenga says the end of July marked the end of Denver Air Connection’s federal Essential Air Service contract for Pierre.
As of Friday (Aug. 1, 2025), SkyWest, flying as United Express, took over as the EAS contract holder for the Pierre Regional Airport. Huizenga says the public is invited to a welcome back celebration next week.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s EAS program provides a subsidy to the commercial air carrier providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country. As an EAS airport, if the Pierre Regional Airport exceeds 10,000 boardings in one year, it’s eligible to receive $1-million from the USDOT to help support airport operations.
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July 1 2025;
The Pierre Regional Airport recorded strong enplanement numbers for June 2025.
That’s according to Pierre City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga.
Starting August 1, 2025, Huizenga says SkyWest, flying as United Express, takes over the federal Essential Air Service contract for Pierre.
The SkyWest reservation system is set up so folks can be booking flights for Aug. 1 and beyond.
Pierre Regional Airport enplanement numbers for January through June 2025.
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June 3, 2025:
Nearly 1200 people flew out of the Pierre Regional Airport last month (May 2025).
That’s according to Pierre City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga.
Again, Denver Air Connection will continue providing commercial air service for Pierre until July 31, 2025. SkyWest, flying as United Express, will take over on Aug. 1, 2025. The SkyWest reservation system is set up so folks can be booking flights now for Aug. 1 and beyond.
Pierre’s airport is partially funded through the federal Essential Air Service program, which means the U.S. Department of Transportation provides a subsidy to the commercial air carrier providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country. As an EAS airport, if Pierre goes over the 10,000 boardings number in one year, it’s eligible to receive $1-million from the USDOT to help support airport operations.
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May 7, 2025:
924 people flew out of Pierre in April 2025.
City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga says each month so far this year has had more people fly out of the Pierre Regional Airport than did in those same months last year (2024).
Again, Denver Air Connection will continue providing commercial air service for Pierre until July 31, 2025. SkyWest, flying as United Express, will take over on Aug. 1, 2025.
Pierre’s airport is partially funded through the federal Essential Air Service program, which means the U.S. Department of Transportation provides a subsidy to the commercial air carrier providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country. As an EAS airport, if Pierre goes over the 10,000 boardings number in one year, it’s eligible to receive $1-million from the USDOT to help support airport operations.
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April 1, 2025:
Six more people flew out of Pierre in March 2025 than did in February.
City Commissioner Jamie Huizengasays the March enplanements are also a little higher than they were in March of 2024.
Huizenga also announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded SkyWest the next Essential Air Service for the Pierre Regional Airport. They were chosen over the other two bidders: current EAS contract holder Denver Air Connection and Wisconsin Air. Pierre city government officials told USDOT that they wanted SkyWest to get the bid, with a primary reason being SkyWest’s relationship with United Airlines and the benefits that come with it.
While local officials do get to provide input regarding which company they prefer, the USDOT makes the ultimate decision. SkyWest will take over commercial air service for Pierre in June.
Pierre’s airport is partially funded through the federal EAS program, which means the USDoT provides a subsidy to the commercial air carrier providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country. As an EAS airport, if Pierre goes over the 10,000 boardings number in one year, it’s eligible to receive $1-million from the USDOT to help support airport operations.
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March 5, 2025:
February was another strong month for enplanement numbers from the Pierre Regional Airport in 2025.
City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga says about 50 more people flew out of Pierre in February than did in January.
Pierre’s airport is partially funded through the federal Essential Air Service program, which means the U.S. Department of Transportation provides a subsidy to the commercial air carrier providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country.
As an EAS airport, if Pierre goes over the 10,000 boardings number in one year, it’s eligible to receive $1-million from the USDOT. Total enplanements from Pierre in 2024 were 14,711.
Pierre’s EAS contract is up for renewal this year.
Three companies submitted bids. Those were current EAS contract holder Denver Air Connection; previous EAS contract holder SkyWest; and Wisconsin Air. Pierre city government officials are recommending that the bid from SkyWest be the one that’s chosen because of it’s relationship with United Airlines and the benefits that come with it.
While local officials do get to provide input regarding which company they prefer, the USDOT makes the ultimate decision.
Denver Air Connection currently provides 12 round trip flights each week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport.
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February 5, 2025:
January started the year off strong as far as the number of outbound flights from the Pierre Regional Airport in 2025.
That, from Pierre City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga.
Pierre’s airport is partially funded through the federal Essential Air Service program, which means the U.S. Department of Transportation provides a subsidy to the commercial air carrier providing service in order to maintain flight options at small airports around the country. Pierre’s contract is up for renewal this year.
Three companies submitted bids. Those were current EAS contract holder Denver Air Connection; previous EAS contract holder SkyWest; and Wisconsin Air. Pierre city government officials are recommending that the bid from SkyWest be the one that’s chosen because of it’s relationship with United Airlines and the benefits that come with it.
While local officials do get to provide input regarding which company they prefer, the USDOT makes the ultimate decision.
Denver Air Connection currently provides 12 round trip flights each week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport.
As an EAS airport, if Pierre goes over the 10,000 boardings number in one year, it’s eligible to receive $1-million from the USDOT. Total enplanements from Pierre in 2024 were 14,711.
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