The Pierre City Commission is recommending to the US Department of Transportation that SkyWest receive the contract to be the Essential Air Service provider for the Pierre Regional Airport.
Airport manager Cameron Howard says three companies submitted proposals– Boutique Air, Denver Air Connection and SkyWest.
Howard says SkyWest’s service provides some advantages for travelers.
The USDOT gives EAS communities like Pierre the opportunity to review air service proposals and make a recommendation, but USDOT gets the final say. Once they receive Pierre’s recommendation, they have up to 30 days to complete their review and award a contract.
SkyWest’s current two year contract ends in April. The new contract begins May 1, 2021. If selected, SkyWest will provide Pierre with 12 weekly flights split between Denver International and Chicago’s O’Hare airport. One-way tickets would average $110.
When awarded an EAS contract, commercial airlines receive a federal subsidy to make air service affordable in remote communities.
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