SkyWest Airlines intends to end scheduled service to 29 cities in the coming months as it continues to face a flight crew shortage. The St George, Utah-based regional carrier on 10 March gave notice to the Department of Transportation (DOT) that it will end the flights on or before 10 June this year.
“Last week, Skywest notified three communities in Iowa (Sioux City, Mason City, and Fort Dodge) of their intent to terminate Essential Air Service (EAS) due to pilot staffing issues, said Tim McClung, Aviation Director for the Iowa DOT. “Service at all of those communities is under the United Airlines banner. The U.S. DOT is already actively engaged with the communities and has issued an order to hold Skywest in each market until a replacement carrier is found.
Ann Richart, Director of Aeronautics for the Nebraska Department of Transportation said that SkyWest’s decision to drop profitable routes is disappointing for Nebraska communities and should also serve as an indication of the challenges all US air carriers are currently facing. “Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff are not the smallest Nebraska commercial service airports,” noted Richart. “As a matter of fact, all three set enplanement records in 2019 before the pandemic.” All three also recorded strong passenger traffic in 2021 with Kearney setting a new record at 25,000 annual enplanements. These routes are all subsidized under the Essential Air Service program which means that they were profitable for the airline. “As is often the case in air service actions, SkyWest is looking for more than profitable routes: they are choosing to serve the routes that are the MOST profitable,” said Richart.
Kyle Wanner, Executive Director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission said they are disappointed that workforce shortage issues have placed SkyWest in a position where they have decided to request the termination of their contract obligations to provide air service to two Essential Air Service communities in North Dakota and many others throughout the country. “We are appreciative of the quick response by the USDOT to issue an order that prohibits SkyWest to terminate air service in the near term while quickly moving forward to request proposals from potential replacement carriers,” said Wanner. “Whether other airlines have the capability or interest in providing service to these communities remains to be seen as we also acknowledge that we are in challenging times for both the airline industry as well as our rural communities that are attempting to maintain their air service options. We look forward to working with our communities, our airline partners, and our congressional delegation to identify potential solutions to these challenges.”
Richart said she is delighted that DOT has directed SkyWest to continue serving EAR, LBF, and BFF until another carrier can be found. “I hope that a new carrier offers the same quality aircraft and good connections that SkyWest’s United Express service has to these communities.” The University of Nebraska campuses in Omaha and Kearney are offering flight degree programs to provide needed pilots for US air carriers, and according to Richart, several Nebraska school districts are also offering aviation programs to develop interest in aviation carriers at an early age. “Rural communities rely on air service to connect them to the global economy; it’s important for our communities that we maintain this connection.”
McClung noted that they hope to learn more in the coming weeks in regard to Iowa, but for now the parties are working together to minimize service disruptions to the public.
