The US Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded SkyWest Airlines (OO, Salt Lake City) a two-year essential air service (EAS) contract at Plattsburgh International, NY, while United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) secured a two-year EAS contract at Presque Isle, ME.

Under the terms of the EAS contract commencing on July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2020, SkyWest Airlines will connect Plattsburgh Int'l with Washington Dulles. The service will be operated 12x weekly using CRJ200 equipment under the United Express brand. The carrier is set to receive an annual subsidy of USD3.37 million.

Out of Presque Isle, United will operate 12x weekly to New York Newark using an unspecified 50-seat jet aircraft. The carrier will receive a subsidy of USD4.78 million per annum. Most likely the services will be operated by one of the United's regional partners under the United Express brand on board either CRJ-200s or E145s.

Currently, both airports are served by PenAir (Anchorage Ted Stevens). The carrier connects each of them to Boston, 19x weekly in case of Plattsburgh and 12x weekly out of Presque Isle. Flights are operated with Saab 340B aircraft. PenAir receives USD5.2 million and USD3.07 million EAS subsidy in the current year for the flights out of Plattsburgh and Presque Isle, respectively.

While Presque Isle does not currently see any non-EAS routes, Plattsburgh is also served by Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines.

The DOT simultaneously decided to re-solicit proposals for EAS operations out of Bar Harbor, ME. Although both the DOT and the local community supported the offer submitted by Silver Airways (3M, Fort Lauderdale International), the carrier put forward an all-or-nothing bid for all three EAS contracts. Since it was not chosen to operate out of Plattsburgh and Presque Isle, its offer to serve Bar Harbor became invalid. Silver Airways proposed to operate a 14x weekly seasonal summer service out of the airport to Boston using a Saab 340B aircraft.

Currently, Bar Harbor is served year-round by Cape Air (9K, Hyannis) and seasonally by PenAir. Both carriers connect the city to Boston Int'l.