Aug. 15, 2025:
A welcome back celebration for SkyWest, flying as United Express, was held Thursday afternoon (Aug. 14, 2025) at the Pierre Regional Airport.
SkyWest Airlines Corporate Communications Coordinator Emily Ekker said they are happy to be back in Pierre providing commercial air service for central South Dakota.
Ekker said SkyWest will be adding flights between Pierre and Denver during two months this fall.
Pierre Mayor Steve Harding thinks travelers will appreciate the options and amenities SkyWest and United offer.
Along with improvements made to the facility in the past several years, Pierre City Commissioner and Airport Liaison Jamie Huizenga anticipates there will be economic benefits that come with having commercial air service provided by a global company.
SkyWest previously served as the federal essential air service contract holder for both the Pierre and Watertown regional airports from 2019 to 2020. This new contract is for the next four years.
From 2021-2025, both airports were served by regional air carrier Key Lime Air/Denver Air Connection.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
SkyWest Airlines Corporate Communications Coordinator Emily Ekker.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Pierre Mayor Steve Harding.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Pierre City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Aug. 14, 2025:
A welcome back celebration for SkyWest, flying as United Express, is being held this afternoon (Aug. 14, 2025) at the Pierre Regional Airport.
Activities include:
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3:30p.m. – Treats and beverages from local businesses (provided by the City of Pierre)
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3:45p.m. – Program with remarks from Mayor Steve Harding, Commissioner Jamie Huizenga, and more
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4:00p.m. – Ribbon cutting led by the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce
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4:19p.m. – Arrival of the evening United Express flight
The public is encouraged to attend.
SkyWest previously served as the federal essential air service contract holder for Pierre from 2019 to 2020. This new contract is for the next four years.
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Aug. 12, 2025:
SkyWest, flying as United Express, is once again providing commercial air service for the Pierre Regional Airport.
City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga says an official welcome back event will be held Thursday (Aug. 14, 2025).
Regional carrier Denver Air Connection held the federal Essential Air Service contract for Pierre for the past four years. From April 2019-April 2021, SkyWest held Pierre’s EAS contract. Prior to that, Huizenga says commercial air service in Pierre was hit-or-miss for several years.
Denver Air Connection had also been providing EAS service at the Watertown Regional Airport for the past four years. SkyWest is now the commercial air carrier for that airport for the next four years as well.
Both the Pierre and Watertown airports 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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