PIERRE, (KCCR) — The U-S Department of Transportation Wednesday issued an order requesting proposals for Essential Air Service contracts for Pierre and Watertown. Pierre Regional Airport Liaison to the Pierre City Commission Jamie Huizenga says the city has no control over which airlines take a chance on serving the city…
The eight-page U-S D-O-T order specifically states that proposals submitted by airlines must meet basic E-A-S requirements that are consistent to what is currently provided, which for Pierre is 12 round-trip flights per week to Denver or Minneapolis or another large-or-medium hub within 650 miles of Pierre using regional jet aircraft. Huizenga says Pierre should know soon what options are available…
In the current contract which expires in at the end of May of 2025, Denver Air Connection received a subsidy of five-point-seven million dollars for the first year and is getting six-point-three million in the current year. Airlines have until January 6th to file proposals with the U-S D-O-T. As of Thursday, no bids have been submitted.
