The US Department of Transportation has awarded SkyWest Airlines (OO, Salt Lake City) a contract to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Quincy Regional, Illinois for a total annual subsidy of USD5.6 million. The contract runs from December 1, 2017 until November 30, 2019. SkyWest will run the flights under the United Express brand.
According to its proposal. SkyWest will operate 12x weekly trips between each of Cape Girardeau and Quincy to Chicago O'Hare aboard CRJ200 aircraft.
The Utah-based carrier replaces Cape Air (9K, Hyannis) which has provided service at the two airports for the past two years using 9-passenger Cessna (twin piston) 402 aircraft.
A total of five carriers bid for the contract: Air Choice One, Boutique Air, Cape Air, SkyWest, and Southern Airways Express (9X, Memphis International).
In making its selection, the DOT noted that SkyWest had the unanimous support of the elected officials of the City of Quincy and the City of Cape Girardeau. Both cities said that they preferred SkyWest's proposed larger aircraft which would complement the growth of their airports.
