The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is considering establishing capacity purchase agreements (CPA) with regional carriers in order to provide regular, uninterrupted and affordable flights at all nine of its commercial airports. The Casper Star Tribune reports that the WYDOT is studying the model and has set up a working group to that end.
"The state currently funds air service to several communities in the state through the Air Service Enhancement Program (ASEP)," a WYDOT committee document reads. "While the program benefits communities and the state by providing quality air service access, further efficiencies may be possible. WYDOT is actively working to achieve these efficiencies by modifying the current program into one where the state and local communities enter into a long-term Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with a single commercial air service provider, versus contracting with several providers at intermittent lengths."
Under the WYDOT's plan, local airports would set their own flight schedules, routes and pricing structure, and contract small carriers to carry them out. Ideally, each airport would be served with 3x daily round-trips to Denver, with later options to connect to Minneapolis or Dallas.
The airports at Wyoming are currently covered by the following airlines:
- Casper – United Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines
- Cheyenne – Great Lakes Airlines
- Cody – United, Delta
- Gillette – United
- Jackson Hole, WY – Delta, American Airlines, United
- Laramie – United
- Riverton – Great Lakes
- Rock Springs – United
WYDOT director Bill Panos has indicated that the plan could work as a public-private partnership that would improve efficiency and reliability of air services, and which would also save the state money.
"This idea of capacity purchase agreements, for decades, has worked very well for airlines," he said, adding that it would encourage locals to use Wyoming airports rather than driving to Denver or Salt Lake City.
