Summary
- SkyWest Airlines and the Western Nebraska Regional Airport have reached an agreement, ensuring continuity of service from the carrier.
- The airport board favored a jet aircraft of SkyWest over a propellor plane offered by Boutique Air.
- SkyWest offers flights to the Western Nebraska Regional Airport under the Essential Air Service Program.
Air connectivity from Western Nebraska Regional Airport will proceed to be maintained, as SkyWest Airlines and the airport board recently approved an agreement under the Essential Air Service Program. The airline serves Scottsbluff in Nebraska, connecting it with Denver.
Agreement reached
SkyWest Airlines and the Airport Board at Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) have reached an agreement about continuing operations on the airport and connecting the area people with Denver International Airport.
In keeping with the Star-Herald, the airline, which serves the airport through the government-subsidized Essential Air Service Program (EAS), had been with out a contract for the last 18 months. However the Department of Transportation (DOT) has the ability to position a hold-in contract that makes a carrier proceed with the service until a brand new agreement is reached.
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The DOT approves an EAS bit by a carrier if certain requirements are met, which within the case of Scottsbluff was having 12 weekly roundtrip flights to a regional hub airport on an aircraft that may accommodate greater than 30 passengers.
SkyWest provides regional services for major carriers similar to United Airlines, Delta, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. In Scottsbluff, it provides services for United Express on a Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft.
The airport wanted a jet aircraft
In keeping with the report, the airport had attracted two bids under the EAS rules, one in every of which was from Boutique Air, which desired to fly a propellor airplane that might seat only nine people. It was rejected by the airport because it favored the jet aircraft offered by SkyWest. The Star-Herald quotes Airport Director Raul Aguallo as saying,
“If we were to change back to Boutique and surrender our jet service, we may need a extremely difficult time going back to jets. Over time, my predecessor and I actually have at all times tried to keep away from the prop aircraft.”
SkyWest expects to make an annual revenue of around $2.3 million at Western Nebraska Regional Airport against a yearly operating cost of $6.7 million. Of Course, under the EAS program, the federal government will cover the price difference, with subsidies totaling almost $5 million.
In early 2022, SkyWest requested to finish service to 29 locations, including Scottsbluff, under the EAS program, citing a shortage of pilots. However the DOT turned it down, saying it needed to proceed serving those communities until alternative carriers might be found.
What’s EAS?
The Essential Air Services (EAS) program was created to supply connectivity to small, underserved communities within the US. These flights are subsidized by the federal government, incentivizing airlines to deploy their aircraft to such airports and connecting them with regional hubs.
Photo: Bradley Caslin | Shutterstock
It was put in place in 1978 when The Airline Deregulation Act (ADA) was passed and has been pivotal in providing air connectivity to several small communities in Alaska and the lower 48 contiguous states. Those involved in learning more concerning the EAS program can try the next article.
What Is The USA’s Essential Air Service Program?
Originally a decadal program, the EAS is now in its forty fourth 12 months.
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