South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is supporting SkyWest’s request that the US Department of Transportation re-bid the federal Essential Air Service contracts for the airports in Pierre and Watertown, rather than allowing Denver Air Connection to take over service July 1.
Noem sent USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg a letter asking him to reconsider his agency’s decision to give the two-year commercial air service contracts for Pierre and Watertown to Denver Air Connection. That, despite the recommendations of the city government in both towns, Governor Noem and South Dakota’s Congressional delegation that SkyWest’s EAS contract be renewed.
Noem says after the Biden Administration announced an infrastructure package worth over $2.5 trillion, it seems inconsistent to reject SkyWest’s superior service. She says the change in service would have a detrimental impact on tourism, small businesses and economic growth in both cities, which she calls “vital economic centers for South Dakota.”
Noem asks Buttigieg to “rethink this decision and instruct your team to issue a re-bid.”
At the end of April, a SkyWest executive sent a letter to USDOT citing reasons why that company should be given the contract and asking for a re-bid. Earlier this week, an official with Denver Air Connection responded with a letter outlining why his company should keep the contract.
Noem letter:
Denver Air Connection letter:
SkyWest letter:
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