JRairportRainJamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Regional Airport Authority is reviewing information concerning two airlines bidding to provide commercial airline passenger service for 2016-2018 under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Essential Air Service program.

The current carrier, SkyWest Airlines is one of the bidders for the 2016-2018 EAS contract. The other bidder is Great Lakes Aviation, the airline that used to provide commercial passenger service between Jamestown to Minneapolis before suspending its service in late January 2014 due to a lack of pilots.

　

SkyWest Airlines’ 2016-2018 bid would offer 12 flights a week using the CRJ-200 jet airplane that sits 50 passengers, with flights from Denver International Airport to Jamestown and Devils Lake regional airports. The airline would continue to contract with United Express to provide commercial passenger jet service and provide codeshare with United and receive $2.79 million annually to fly into Jamestown and $3.99 million annually to fly into Devils Lake for a total of $6.78 million annually.

　

The Great Lakes Aviation bid would offer 18 flights a week to Jamestown Regional Airport and 14 flights per week to Devils Lake Regional Airport using a Beech 1900D 19-passenger airplane, with service to Minneapolis International Airport. Great Lakes Aviation would offer codeshare with Delta Airlines, meaning people could participate in Delta’s flyer miles program and reap other benefits. Great Lakes would receive $3.25 million annually for flying into Jamestown and receive $2.88 million for flying into Devils Lake annually for a total of $6.13 million annually.

The current EAS contract, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, expires on June 30. The Airport Authority’s Commercial Air Service Committee, made up of Chairman Jim Boyd, member Brent Harris and Mayor Katie Andersen, reviewed the two bids received by the USDOT.