SkyWest Barred from Dropping Regional Flights in Underserved Communities

The U.S. Department of Transportation is preventing SkyWest Airlines from cutting 29 cities from their network unless a replacement carrier can be identified.

A regional airline subcontracting for four major U.S. airlines will not be allowed to cut routes to a group of small communities under the federal subsidy program.

Reuters reports SkyWest will need to maintain routes to 29 cities throughout Summer 2022 unless another airline can be identified to replace those flights.

Air Service Considered Essential for Smaller Communities

Under the plan proposed by SkyWest, the 29 communities slated to lose their service includes Decatur Airport (DEC) in Illinois, Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX) in Sioux City, Missouri, and Eau Claire Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU) in Wisconsin. Under the federal Essential Air Service subsidy program, the carriers reportedly earn $3 million in government funds to maintain essential service to each of the airports.

However, the U.S. Department of Transportation will not allow SkyWest – operating codeshares for United Airlines, among others – to remove those routes without a replacement in place. Instead, the airline must continue to serve those airports through at least July 8, 2022, and for a rolling 30-day period until another airline can begin flying to those airports.

The DOT is asking for proposals from other airlines by April 11, 2022 to replace SkyWest on those routes. In a statement to Reuters, the carrier said they will “work with officials toward solutions that would enable us to reconnect these communities to the National Air Transportation System in the future, and we are committed to remaining flexible and adjusting our plans if the situation improves more quickly than currently expected.”

In addition to flying United Express routes, SkyWest operates flights on behalf of Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Other Carriers Cut Service Due to Oil Prices

While a lack of staff is to blame for SkyWest’s plan to eliminate routes, other airlines say oil prices are forcing them to reconsider flights. Both Alaska and Allegiant Air say they will cut flights in the second quarter of 2022 due to increased pricing in jet fuel.